Morning Prayer
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences
Lord, open my lips and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to secure me: against snares of devils,
against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature,
against everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
Revelation 12:1-6 (ESV) – to be read aloud
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.
Washington DC ~ Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it.
She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
Reflection
THE SECOND VISION – THE SEVEN TRUMPETS (8:2-14:20)
Interlude (12:1-14:20)
The red dragon: (12:3-4)
A second sign now appears in the sky – an enormous red dragon with seven heads – called the devil, or Satan (vs 9)…. Allusions to dragons are not uncommon in the OT. More often than not they refer metaphorically to Israel’s enemies…. Against this background the dragon of John’s vision would immediately be understood as the archenemy of God and his people…. The color symbolizes the murderous character of Satan…. John’s fondness for the number “seven” as a symbol for completeness suggests that the seven heads of the dragon depict the universality of his power. The ten horns recall Daniel 7:7,24… indicating that Satan’s earthly emissaries are like him in destructive power. The crowns… are Satan’s presumptuous claim of royal power over against “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” upon whose head are many diadems (19:12,16).
The cataclysmic action of the dragon’s sweeping tail emphasizes the tremendous size and awesome power of the dragon. That he hurls down a third of the stars indicates no more than that he does so to a very great number. John is not teaching a theology of fallen angels but reporting a pageant in the sky.
The dragon stands in readiness before the woman with child so that when the child is born he can devour it. This explains the violent antagonism with which the child of the messianic community was met during the years of his life on earth. (Mounce, p.232-3)
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John is describing spiritual realities in vivid mythological terms. Here is the ultimate purpose of Satan: to frustrate the work of Christ. (Ladd, p.169)
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Canticle
Christ, as a light – illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield – overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me – on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Peanut Gallery: In September, we will begin reading through the Book of Revelation (ESV). Our purpose will be devotional, i.e. to discover the word of blessing that God has for us in these troubled times… to find hope and help for our daily lives.
This will not be a Bible Study per se: we will not attempt to unravel the “mysteries” of Revelation… that is far beyond our abilities and is not our interest here. However, so as not to get too far afield, we will rely on three study resources: primary – A Commentary on the Revelation of John (George Elton Ladd); supplemental Revelation (Leon Morris) and The Book of Revelation (Robert H. Mounce).
The general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) On Sundays, we’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world. Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 