Battle Hymn

Preparing for the end with prayer, penance and almsgiving

11/24/2020

Revelation 14:14-19 I, John, looked and there was a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud one who looked like a son of man, with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, “Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth’s harvest is fully ripe.” So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven who also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel came from the altar, who was in charge of the fire, and cried out in a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Use your sharp sickle and cut the clusters from the earth’s vines, for its grapes are ripe.” So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and cut the earth’s vintage. He threw it into the great wine press of God’s fury.

Our scripture readings today invite us to reflect on how things will end. Now, some things we are happy to see end, while other things we hate to see come to an end. For example, we will all be happy when this pandemic ends and we no longer have to wear masks at Mass. I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait for this Razorback football season to end because I am hoping for a better one next year. And all Catholics love to hear a homily come to an end! On the other hand, we hate to see other things end. Newly married couples don’t want their honeymoon to come to an end. We are sad when a great story or novel comes to a conclusion. And we all mourn and weep when someone’s life comes to an end. In fact I have two funerals this week. In other words, some ends we desire but other ends we dread.

Our scripture readings today also talk about the end times. Some scripture scholars call Luke 21 the “Little Apocalypse” while the Book of Revelation is referred to as the “Big Apocalypse.” Luke does in one chapter what it takes John twenty-two chapters to narrate. That is, both are talking about the end of the world. Now, is the end of the world a desirable thing or is it something to be dreaded? That all depends on our level of preparation. If you read carefully, you discover that Revelation ch. 14 speaks of wheat that is harvested, and that refers to the harvest of the just and the saved. But secondly, it also speaks of grapes being harvested which are subsequently thrown “into the great wine press of God’s fury.” These are the ones who will be condemned.

This passage of Revelation always reminds me of the famous Civil War song, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Do you remember it? The first stanza reads: “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.” So, let me ask you: is seeing “the glory of the coming of the Lord” at the end of time a desirable thing or a dreadful thing? Well, that all depends on whether you are a golden stalk of wheat or a cluster of the grapes of wrath, that is, how well have you prepared for the end, the return of Christ.

The best way to prepare for the “Big Apocalypse” is the best way to live our everyday Christian lives, namely, with prayer, penance and almsgiving. And this pandemic provides ample opportunity to practice all three of those spiritual exercises. We have tons of time for serious prayer, if we can just stop binging on Netflix series. Penances are plentiful: wear those irritating masks, take the time to wash your hands, sacrifice the pleasure of hugs and handshakes. These are the modern-day equivalents of a hair shirt, fasting on bread and water, and sleeping on the floor. We don’t have to find penances, the penances have found us.

And almsgiving has become more urgent as people struggle to make ends meet. And I have to add that I am so edified by seeing you performing these spiritual exercises every day. People are constantly stopping by the church to pray at all hours of the day. You have been very religious about all our restrictions. And your generosity to the poor and needy is second to none. I have little doubt that at the great and last harvest, the Big Apocalypse, at the end of time, you will be among the wheat and not the grapes of wrath.

Let me end with the last lines of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Jane Ward Howe wrote: “In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea. With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me. As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free, While God is marching on!”

Praised be Jesus Christ!