The Blood of the Lamb

"“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."  (Revelation 7: 14)

This scripture read in today’s second reading may prove a useful arsenal in  hospital and other outreach ministries.

"“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."  (Revelation 7: 14)

“Time of great distress” is also time of downtime through illness, financial challenges, family upheaval, loss of job and income, and more.  How do we react during these inevitable crisis of life?  Revelation 7: 14 gave the answer:  “they washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb.”  They did not reject their cross.  Pope Benedict XVI taught that rejection of the cross is rejection of Jesus Christ.  When you accept your cross, you get your crown.  When you embrace your thorns, you receive your triumphs.  The Church has never compromised on this teaching.  The TRUTH on this is indivisible and perennial.  There is no choice with the truth.  The choice is “hairesis” (Greek for choosing what you want to believe) and is a rejection of Jesus Christ and the Cross.