Year of the Bible
Revelation 3
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Commentary on the Book of Revelation, Chapter 3:
Jesus’ words for seven specific churches conclude in this chapter. Each communication includes a description of Jesus from chapter 1, Jesus’ knowledge of their situation including what is praise-worthy and where they need to improve, consequences for not making changes, and the promise of the ability to conquer for those who remain faithful. The Christian community of Sardis has a good reputation, but Jesus knows they are sleep-walking through their faith and have soiled their garments, a metaphor for sin. In Philadelphia, the Christians are facing persecution, but Jesus promises them protection in upcoming trials. The final community is Laodicea. This city has tepid water, contrasting two nearby cities that have refreshing hot springs and cold mountain streams. Jesus uses this setting to explain that the Christians of Laodicea are as unpleasantly lukewarm as their water. They are wealthy in material ways, but utterly lacking in Jesus’ eyes. Jesus will, however, respond to anyone who opens the door to His knock.
The Book of Revelation, Chapter 3:
The Message to Sardis
1 “And to the angel of the Church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. 2 Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who conquers shall be clothed like them in white garments, and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Message to Philadelphia
7 “And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write:
‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. 11 I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 He who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God; never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
The Message to Laodicea
14 “And to the angel of the Church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
"Behold I stand at the door and knock..." (v.20) What would a meeting between Jesus and you over a meal look like? What would you talk about? What would you eat? Would you open the door to him and invite him in? Can you imagine this scene playing out every time you go to mass, when you say: "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say that word and my soul shall be healed"?
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc, or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
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1 Al ángel de la iglesia de Sardes escríbele:
«Esto dice el que tiene los siete espíritus
de Dios y las siete estrellas: “Conozco
tus obras, que estás vivo de nombre, pero
de hecho estás muerto.
2 Manténte alerta y consolida lo que
queda y está a punto de morir, porque
no he encontrado tus obras perfectas
delante de mi Dios. 3 Acuérdate, por tanto,
de cómo has recibido y oído la palabra,
guárdala y arrepiéntete; porque si
no estás vigilante, vendré como un ladrón;
sin que sepas a qué hora vendré a
ti. 4 Sin embargo, tienes en Sardes algunas
personas que no han manchado sus
vestidos y que caminarán conmigo con
vestidos blancos, porque son dignos. 5 El
vencedor será revestido con vestiduras
blancas y no borraré su nombre del libro
de la vida; confesaré su nombre en
la presencia de mi Padre y delante de
sus ángeles”».
6 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias.
7 Al ángel de la iglesia de Filadelfia
escríbele:
«Esto dice el Santo, el Veraz, el que
tiene la llave de David, el que abre y nadie
puede cerrar, y cierra y nadie puede
abrir: 8 “Conozco tus obras –mira que
he puesto ante ti una puerta abierta que
nadie puede cerrar–, porque aunque
tienes poca fuerza guardaste mi palabra
y no negaste mi nombre. 9 Mira, te daré
a algunos de la sinagoga de Satanás, que
dicen ser judíos y no lo son, sino que
mienten; haré que ellos vengan a postrarse
ante tus pies y conocerán que yo
te he amado. 10 Porque has guardado mi
mandato de perseverar, yo también te
guardaré a la hora de la tentación que va
a venir sobre todo el mundo, para probar
a los habitantes de la tierra. 11 Voy
enseguida. Conserva lo que tienes, para
que nadie arrebate tu corona. 12 Al que
venza le haré columna en el templo de
mi Dios, y no saldrá fuera nunca más,
escribiré sobre él el nombre de mi Dios,
el nombre de la ciudad de mi Dios, la
nueva Jerusalén que desciende del cielo
desde mi Dios, y mi nombre nuevo”».
13 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias.
14 Al ángel de la iglesia de Laodicea
escríbele:
«Esto dice el Amén, el testigo fiel
y veraz, el principio de la creación de
Dios: 15 “Conozco tus obras, que no eres
frío ni caliente. ¡Ojalá fueras frío o caliente!
16 Y así, porque eres tibio, y no
caliente ni frío, voy a vomitarte de mi
boca. 17 Porque dices: ‘Soy rico, me he
enriquecido y de nada tengo necesidad’,
y no sabes que eres un desdichado y miserable,
pobre, ciego y desnudo. 18 Te
aconsejo que me compres oro acrisolado
por el fuego para que te enriquezcas,
túnicas blancas para que te vistas y no
aparezca la vergüenza de tu desnudez, y
colirio con que ungirte los ojos para que
veas. 19 Yo, a cuantos amo, los reprendo
y castigo. Por tanto, ten celo y arrepiéntete.
20 Mira, estoy a la puerta y llamo: si
alguno escucha mi voz y abre la puerta,
entraré en su casa y cenaré con él, y
él conmigo. 21 Al que venza le concederé
sentarse conmigo en mi trono, igual que
yo he vencido y me he sentado con mi
Padre en su trono”».
22 El que tenga oídos, oiga lo que el
Espíritu dice a las iglesias.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
"He aquí que estoy a la puerta y llamo..." (v.20) ¿Cómo sería un encuentro entre Jesús y tú durante una cena? ¿De qué hablarían? ¿Qué comerían? ¿Le abrirías la puerta y le invitarías a entrar? ¿Te imaginas esta escena cada vez que vas a misa, cuando dices: "Señor, no soy digno de que entres bajo mi techo, pero una palabra Tuya bastara para sanarme"?
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).