Deepertruth: Stand In The Gap With Us And Saint Raymond of Penafort

Stand In The Gap With Us And Saint Raymond of Penafort 1/7/2024

When looking at the lives of the Saints, it can be very interesting at how the Lord used the gifts of each person.

Although their gifts varied, they were sold out to God with all their hearts, minds, strengths, and souls.

They had many struggles as we all do, that is important to remember, but they are with the Lord.

We want to imitate their strengths and know their weaknesses to help inspire us.

It is also interesting how Jesus still uses the lives of the Saints for His glory. Chapter 4 of Revelation is relatively a small chapter, but there is a lot of meat and potatoes there giving us a glimpse of the worship taking place before the Throne of God.

There are the twenty-four thrones on which twenty-four elders sits wearing white robes crowned with glory. These thrones represents the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles and their authority seats.

There are the four living creatures resembling the lion, a calf, a human face, and an eagle in flight exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come (Revelation 4:8).”

Ezekiel was first given a vision of this (Ezekiel 1:5-21)who identifies them as cherubim angels (Ezekiel 10:20). These images represent what is noble, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation.

These images also are used by the Catholic Church to symbolize the evangelists Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John.

Notice the focus given the gospel readings at Mass! There is much more to this, but I want to touch upon the Holy Mass which benefits from this Heavenly worship taking place. The twenty-four Elders place their crowns before the Throne of God exclaiming, “Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created (Revelation 4:11).”