Revelation 1:3-8
Chapter 1
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Blessed is the one who reads aloud these prophetic words, and blessed are those who hear them, and treasure everything written here, for the time is near.
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Message to the Seven Churches: Greeting
From John to the seven churches of Asia: receive grace and peace from him who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits of God, which are before his throne,
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and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us, and has washed away our sins with his own blood,
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making us a kingdom and priests for God his Father, to him be the glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen.
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See, he comes with the clouds,
and everyone will see him,
even those who pierced him;
on his account, all the nations of the earth
will beat their breast. Yes. It will be so.
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I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, “the one who is, and who was, and who is to come: the Almighty.”
Commentaries
Introduction.
‘Apocalypse’ in Greek means ‘unveiling’ or ‘revelation’ of something hidden. The reading begins with these two words: “The revelation that God entrusted to Jesus Christ.” The central focus on Jesus Christ and the depth of his mystery are emphasized from the start (1:1) to the end (22:21). The proclamation of a beatitude, or blessing, follows the presentation of the book. It is the first of seven beatitudes that highlight the book (1:3; 14:13; 16:15; 19:9; 20:6; 22:7; 22:14). This shows that Revelation is not a scary book, a list of bad events, but rather a message from God of great joy (seven symbolizes totality) for the Church. The first beatitude involves proclaiming the Word of God, listening to it with an open heart, and keeping its message. The Christian community already seems to be the book’s primary audience.
Message to the Seven Churches: Greeting.
Divine grace and peace are extended to the entire Church (the seven churches of Asia symbolize the universal Church). The God who greets and blesses is not an impersonal force, but the Christian God par excellence—namely, the Holy Trinity. Jesus Christ is honored with three main titles. He is the “faithful witness” because, through his life, death, and resurrection, he fully expresses everything God intended to reveal to us. He is the ‘firstborn of the dead’ because of his resurrection. He is the “Lord of the kings of the earth” because, as the risen Lord, empowered by his Spirit and with our cooperation, he guides history toward its complete human and Christian fulfillment. Who is Jesus Christ for the Church? The community recalls three great blessings that the Lord has abundantly given: love, redemption, and sharing in the royal priesthood. The Church exists because of this love of Jesus Christ, which it gratefully experiences throughout its history.