The popular culture understands the Apocalypse to mean destruction: the end of the world. It is Armageddon, the final battle. Yet, in Jesus’ time, the word apocalypse meant the unveiling or revealing what is hidden.
The word Apocalypse translated into our language means revelation. That is, to reveal what was hidden. What was hidden? The real presence of God, not the end of the world, as Jesus teaches
“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.” (Lk 8:17)
What is hidden is not a secret and forbidden. It is a mystery. Only those who seek to understand the mystery of the revelation of Jesus Christ will come to know Him. Those who do not want to delve into the mysteries of Who Jesus is will never understand the book of the Apocalypse.
The Apocalypse is a book of the heavenly worship of God. The author, most likely John the Evangelist, is taken up on the Lord’s Day, Sunday, and experiences this vision. The vision is unveiled or revealed and so the title of the book is Revelation. Read it closely and this passage sums it:
“Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb. These words are true; they come from God.” (Rev. 19:9)
Jesus lifts us up into his divine presence every time we celebrate the Wedding Feast of the Lamb which we call Mass and every time we enter into the Mass we envision the divine liturgy beholding Jesus as the Priest sitting on his throne interceding for us.
In this earthly liturgy, we are taken up literally into the heavenly liturgy, and behold the divine mysteries being revealed to us. The book of Revelation reveals that God is present here in Mass and we are present in heaven. We see the heavens open and Jesus unveils Himself to us as the bridegroom giving us his love through his life!
For us to experience this mystery, that it is real and meaningful, we repent of our sin. Once cleansed by his grace, we are taken up into heaven only to behold the Real Presence of Christ through the mystery of the Eucharist.
These Eucharistic Mysteries reveal not merely Who Christ is, the Messiah promised by God to restore his creation, but who we are. We are the beloved bride of Christ made worthy to receive the Groom through the shedding of his blood.
We enter into this marital relationship and experience the inexpressible love that God has for us. His love restores the original love at creation when Adam and Eve lived in the presence of God unveiled.
When Adam encountered Eve and said “she is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh,” he stated something more than just astonishment. He stated that she was him and he was her: not two but one. Yet, seeing each other, Adam and Eve saw God for each is made in the image and likeness of God Who is Love Himself.
The Apocalypse then, unveils God’s unfathomable love for us inviting us to receive it, through the Eucharist, then to live it by loving one another knowing we are infinitely loved by the Bridegroom, Jesus Who gave us his love by giving us his life on the cross.