Revelation 8 – Pure Incense: The Prayer of the Saints, –II
PURE INCENSE
The prayer of the saints
Revelation 8
• Only the Lamb (Jesus) is worthy to break the seven seals and open the scroll that contains the revelation of God’s rescue of His people and the establishment of His kingdom. It was the Lamb who accomplished it at the Cross.
• The response to the breaking of the seals and the revelation of the Lamb’s victory is to adore silence – as during the consecration at Mass.
• Seven angels prepare to blow trumpets: The trumpet blasts herald the events that will follow. (Think of Jericho’s wall coming down when the trumpets were blown)
• But before the angels blow the trumpets,
• The saints’ prayers are offered before God’s throne in a censer. The saints are participants in the victory of the Lamb because they gave their lives with Him.
Rev 7:14 “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Now they are like pure incense pleasing to God.
• The prayer of the saints have a powerful effect upon the earth (thunder, rumblings, earthquake)
• We are called to be among those saints. While not all shedding blood, we can share in the interior martyrdom of the Lord.
39. Martyrdom of the Heart —Diary of a MOC.
The martyrdom of the heart is the martyrdom of suffering with Love and for Love. My daughter, if you could only understand the fruit of the martyrdom of suffering, you would desire nothing else on earth. The hidden life of suffering with Love and for Love is of far greater worth than great and small works tainted with human recognition. Believe in the hidden force contained in the martyrdom of the heart. This is the purest fragrance of love that has the power to conquer the enemies of God. (11/9/12)
• Like the prophet Ezekiel (2:9–3:3) and John (Rev 10:9)), we are called to “eat” the scroll: to assimilate the scroll (What Jesus has revealed, the power of the Cross) until we become one with Him and become witnesses to the truth it contains even though it may be bitter before it tastes like honey.
• Likewise, to live our covenant fully in Love Crucified, the Simple Path, pg. XVIII tells us: “You have to “eat” The Simple Path like Ezekiel ate the scroll in the presence of God.”
• Prayer is: Silence, praise, “eating” the Word.
— Prayer is not only words: our life must be a prayer.
— It is a new life in Christ, giving our lives to the Father as victims of love
— This is to be poor in Spirit.
— Faithful during trials
— Believe in the power of our prayer because Christ continues His work through us.
—The process of living the Path is to achieve this.
