Revelation! We look once again at the rich images of the end of this apocalyptic Vision. Remember (from last week) the word "apocalypse" comes from the Greek word "apokalypsis" which means "to reveal." When we read apocalyptic literature no matter how strange it is, while we don't read it literally we do read it with the expectation that it will reveal something to us of God.
As a preparation for reading the passage let's consider some other water images from scripture:
From the Psalms (1:3) [Those who resist evil and meditate on God's Word] are like trees planted by streams of water ...
From Ezekiel (47:1a) "Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple ..." Note: In Revelation 21:22 God IS the temple!
From John (4:7-10, 14) A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink ... If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water ... whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.”
Again from John (7:37-38) On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “All who are thirsty should come to me! All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, rivers of living water will flow out from within him.”
As a preparation for reading the passage let's consider some other water images from scripture:
From the Psalms (1:3) [Those who resist evil and meditate on God's Word] are like trees planted by streams of water ...
From Ezekiel (47:1a) "Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple ..." Note: In Revelation 21:22 God IS the temple!
From John (4:7-10, 14) A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink ... If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water ... whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.”
Again from John (7:37-38) On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “All who are thirsty should come to me! All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, rivers of living water will flow out from within him.”
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| The Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country (at Mo-Ranch) |
Water is a powerful symbol in the spiritual life. Richard Foster wrote a book some years ago called "Streams of Living Water." In it, Foster illuminates various traditional ways of living out the Christian spiritual life ... contemplative/prayer-filled, holiness/virtuous life, charismatic/spirit-empowered, social-justice/compassionate life, evangelical/word-centered, incarnational/sacramental life ... using the image of these traditional streams coming together into a mighty river! Jesus, of course, embodied them all to the fullest.
However it is administered, through the waters of baptism one is initiated into the community of Jesus followers and we, ourselves, come to know ourselves as the beloved of God!
Water ... Spend a few moments swimming in the spiritual waters of your relationship with Jesus, the giver of living water, as you read and pray and listen and celebrate God’s Presence through the Word. Breathe and settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer. Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables but I’ve used 10 and that is ok)
Breathe in ... Jesus, Jesus (pause)
Breath out ... quench my thirst (pause)
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ... Pray:
Source of Life-Giving Water, as I read and pray your Word, fill me with life-giving water. Let the images wash over me and cleanse my heart. Amen.
Read Revelation 21:10 and 21-22:5 from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation slowly. Immerse yourself in the vivid images as you engage in Lectio Divina, or Praying with Scripture. Allow yourself to be drawn deeply into streams of living water as you read and pray and listen to God sing in your soul.
The Angel then carried me away in the Spirit to the top of a very high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the Temple. There was no sun or moon: God's glory was its light, and the Lamb was its lamp. The nations will walk by the city's light, and the rulers of the earth will bring their treasures. The city's gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does loathsome things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the book of the Lamb will enter. Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, clear as crystal, which issued from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowed through the middle of the streets. On each side of the river grew the trees of life, which produce fruit twelve times a year, once each month; their leaves serve as medicine to heal the nations. There will no longer be any curse. The throne of the Almighty and of the Lamb will be there, and God's subjects will serve faithfully. They will see the Most High face to face, and bear God's name on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They will need no light from lamps or the sun, for our God will give them light, and they will reign forever.
Read this beautiful passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase … or the image that draws your attention. Sit with your selection and listen to the whispers of God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb ... Listen! Turn your word or phrase or image over and over in your mind. Let God the Most High speak into your heart.
Where is God speaking a word of healing into your life through this passage?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond to God. Turn your attention to your word or phrase or image. Know that it is ok if you are being drawn in a different direction on this reading! As you contemplate your word or phrase or image, how are you being called to drink freely from the spring of the water of life? How are you being called to serve God and others in the world? In word … prayer … action … or some other way?
If you were to meet God face to face, what would you say? If you were to bear God's Name on your forehead, what would that Name be?
Read the passage again and Rest. Allow God, who IS the Temple of Life-Giving Water, to draw you deeper into the Streams of Life-Giving Water and into the abundance of love that God has for you and for all people. Let the words fade away ...when you are ready to move on
Pray: O God you are the Water of Life! You are God Almighty! Help me see you Presence in each person I meet and in your world. Help me welcome the life-giving properties of love into my heart. Help me take your beauty and your life-giving love into the world. Amen.
If music is a pathway to God for you, you might listen to this song by Matt Maher: Come to the Water. You can view the water in nature images while the song plays or simply close your eyes (like I did) and contemplate the words. The song is quite beautiful ...
Read this beautiful passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase … or the image that draws your attention. Sit with your selection and listen to the whispers of God Almighty and Jesus the Lamb ... Listen! Turn your word or phrase or image over and over in your mind. Let God the Most High speak into your heart.
Where is God speaking a word of healing into your life through this passage?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond to God. Turn your attention to your word or phrase or image. Know that it is ok if you are being drawn in a different direction on this reading! As you contemplate your word or phrase or image, how are you being called to drink freely from the spring of the water of life? How are you being called to serve God and others in the world? In word … prayer … action … or some other way?
If you were to meet God face to face, what would you say? If you were to bear God's Name on your forehead, what would that Name be?
Read the passage again and Rest. Allow God, who IS the Temple of Life-Giving Water, to draw you deeper into the Streams of Life-Giving Water and into the abundance of love that God has for you and for all people. Let the words fade away ...when you are ready to move on
Pray: O God you are the Water of Life! You are God Almighty! Help me see you Presence in each person I meet and in your world. Help me welcome the life-giving properties of love into my heart. Help me take your beauty and your life-giving love into the world. Amen.
If music is a pathway to God for you, you might listen to this song by Matt Maher: Come to the Water. You can view the water in nature images while the song plays or simply close your eyes (like I did) and contemplate the words. The song is quite beautiful ...
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