Lectionary: 503
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| One of the rides at MN State Fair (no thanks!) |
They were singing what seemed to be a new hymn before the throne,
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
before the four living creatures and the elders.
No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand
who had been ransomed from the earth.
These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
They have been ransomed as the first fruits
of the human race for God and the Lamb.
On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.
At various times some Christian churches take 144,000 very seriously. Most recently Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons insisted that only that number would be saved. Inevitably, as their numbers grew, their teaching changed.
The medieval church supposed the number must be pretty nearly filled out by the 13th century. That would be one thousand saints per century, which seemed doable. That belief generated particular energy in the mendicant movements, including my own Franciscan Order. The end is near! Get in while the getting is good!
I suppose, to the biblical author, 144,000 sounded like an awful lot of people, and it carried the ring of fullness about it. Twelve times twelve is as far as our multiplication tables go (but the Chinese learn up to 16x16 – smart alecks!) There was no city on earth as large as 144,000; there were probably less than a million people in the whole world at that time. And, considering that most people are rogues, 144,000 sounded pretty generous.
But Saint John also allowed that more people might be admitted to Paradise; they just would not be among the elect:
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9
The Seer’s thinking was not complicated by our modern notions of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité. Since all is God’s gift and God owes nothing to anyone, the promise of 144,000 elite saints and a great multitude of others sounds generous indeed.
After twenty centuries of recording the lives of holy people and canonizing many of them, we have more experience of holiness; and we know that some of them were really awful people in their early years. Deceit had been found on their lips; if these saints are now unblemished that is another of God’s marvelous works. In Jesus Christ their innocence, integrity and purity was restored. They are worthy not by their heroic efforts alone – though we should admire that – but also by the Grace of God.
The day may yet come when the Catholic Church will have beatified and canonized 144,000 people, and still the roll call will continue. The Lord has done this and it is wonderful in our eyes. (Psalm 118:23)
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.