Stay on the Path

 Lectio:

Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

¹⁰ The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

¹¹ It gleamed with the splendour of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

¹² It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.

¹³ There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west.

¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

²² I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.

²³ The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

STUDIUM:

This is apocalyptic literature from the first century.  So the image literature is reflective of the times.  Revelation is believed to have been written around 96 AD.  The symbolism is from a vision.  The mountain is no surprise.  Many Old Testament scriptures  cite mountains.  Twelve doors are from the twelve apostles.  There was no temple because the Romans had sacked the city and destroyed the temple.  But understand that the real temple is God.

MEDITATIO:

The ending image of light and the glory of God are hopeful signs.  Jesus the Lamb is our lamp.  Jesus will light our way.  

ORATIO:

Lord, give me the grace  to get over my own obstacles of mountains, gates, stones, and destruction.  I will follow Jesus.

CONTEMPLATIO:

My temple is God.

RESOLUTIO:

I resolve to pray for strength, to walk away from sin and temptation.  So help me God.