Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
+ There was an old Alka-Seltzer commercial that said: “Try it. You’ll like it.”
I’m not so sure that it absolutely applies to these scriptures, but perhaps so.
Today’s strange little passage from Revelation jumps forward five chapters — from Chapter 5 to Chapter 10.
John speaks of hearing a voice from heaven that tells him to approach this angel, and take the scroll that is in his open hand and to eat it. He does. But he is warned that it would taste sweet as honey in his mouth, but then turn sour in his stomach. He does as he was told. It turns out to be exactly what happens.
Question: Does not the word of God sometimes fit this description? It “tastes good and sweet” at its first hearing; but when we have to share it and tell it to others, it sometimes becomes sour and upsetting to the stomach, at best. Painful to share. Painful to the ears of others. Painful, and it causes suffering or struggle.
The word of God often is not easy. Often it becomes uncomfortable, as it demands much from us. And yet we have to consume that word, be open totally to that word, welcome that word, and be challenged and called by that word. The word of God changes us, and we become servants of that word.
Look at our faith and our faith experience. This image of eating and being nourished and taking the word — and for that matter the Eucharist — into our lives, our mouths, our stomachs, and our inner beings is what we do. Sweet. Sour. Challenging. Satisfying.
This word of God touches our experience of faith. It is both familiar and odd at the same time. Mystery and imagery often mix together in faith. Not surprising that there are talking angels and the eating of scrolls, and then the revelation of faith with its odd calls and challenges.
“The word of God often is not easy. Often it becomes uncomfortable, as it demands much from us.”
