One reads in the Book of Revelation, chapter 12 about the story of the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” She is pregnant and about to give birth. Then, there appears a “great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems upon his heads.” The dragon wanted to devour the woman’s child, but when the child was born, God caught him up to his throne.
The Book of Revelation was written at a time when the early Christians were already experiencing a widespread persecution throughout the Roman Empire. It was written then to console the persecuted Christians and to make them understand that behind this persecution is the battle between God and Satan. Ultimately, according to the sacred author, God will triumph, and the reign of God will prevail over all evil. The sacred author expressed his basic message through the use of signs and symbols in his book.
The “woman” in the Book of Revelation may stand for the Church, the community of believers in Christ, persecuted by the pagan Roman Empire, symbolized by the “great red dragon.” The “woman” may also stand for Mary who gives birth to Jesus, and the “great red dragon,” for Satan. These symbols remind us of the story of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis, chapter 3. When God declared his judgment on the serpent that tempted Eve, God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Now, I find it intriguing that in the Philippines, Mary is much loved by our people. We are a Marian nation! Shrines of Mary and churches dedicated to this “woman” abound everywhere in the archipelago. On the other hand, the symbol of the dragon is much appreciated by China. In cultural shows, TV advertisements and government propaganda, the dragon is ever present! China also boasts of its Communist ideology in the red color symbol, as in the words, “The East is red!” Of course, Chinese culture does not view the dragon as evil but good. However, with atheistic Communism prevailing in China and materialism brought about by economic progress, couldn’t the favourite dragon be a symbol of Satan?
China today is proud and aggressive. The Communists who are in power oppress the Chinese people, curtailing their freedom, so much so, as one remarked, “Communist China is a nation of slaves!” Catholics and other Christians, who are a minority in the country, are denied authentic religious freedom.
Keeping in mind the Book of Revelation, chapter 12, we believe that this situation will not last. Will Marian Philippines be a catalyst of the conversion of that country, the proclamation of Christ and the reign of God? This may be our national vocation, the challenge of the Work of Mary!
Nova et vetera is Latin that means “new and old.” It is taken from Matthew 13:52. Here, Jesus, at the conclusion of his sermon on parables in chapter 13, says, “Well, then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom (treasury) things both new and old.”
No comments:
Post a Comment