Seventh Sunday of Easter – C3

Seventh Sunday of Easter – C3

Years C
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

What is omitted in this reading? "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." And, "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

One way of justifying this elision is that this is Easter-time. This is a time of new life. It is enough to have a positive pull toward the water of life. A push away from a tree of life is not threat enough to make a needed difference in people's lives.

The omitted portions run contrary to a jail's open doors. In fact it relocks them. It denies the effectiveness of Jesus' testimony in the lives of people, his having been joined with people, and the divisions in the omissions would be a division of Jesus himself.

There may be times when focusing on punishment would be an effective tool, but it runs so contrary to the Easter message that it, here, gets in the way.

Questions: What other scripture passages need to be silenced during a season of Easter? Would that argue for their being silenced during other seasons as well, or would they be acceptable during a penitential season? When are we not basically in an Easter season?

= = = = = = =

come

come echoes

come comes