24 November 2020
Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
St. John had disturbing visions in the book of Revelation. In one of them, an angel came out the temple in Jerusalem and reported that the crop had grown dry (aruit, ἐξηράνθη), so he called for it to be harvested. Then a sickle was swung and the crop was harvested. Then a second angel came from the temple. This one had a loftier ministry: he had been tending the fire and the incense at the altar. He reported that the grapes were flourishing (maturæ sunt, ἤκμασαν), and called for them to be harvested. Another sickle was swung, and the grapes were harvested. Then the grapes were thrown “into the great wine-press of God’s anger; and when the wine-press was trodden out, away from the city, blood came from the wine-press, and reached as high as a horse’s bridle, sixteen hundred furlongs off” (Rev 14:19-20).
This disturbing vision is familiar today from the phrase “the grapes of wrath.” Setting the cultural legacy aside, how are believers to understand what God is revealing here? Various fathers of the Church and theologians have offered interpretations. Some of them are lofty and mystical, but you will not find them repeated here. The only thing that you will find here is an observation from someone who has prayed over this passage (Rev 4:14-20) and who has found it fruitful by the grace of God. The text from Revelation emphasizes that the grapes of wrath were trampled away from the city of Jerusalem. Hebrews 13:12 emphasizes that Jesus was crucified away from the city of Jerusalem. There may be a connection here…