Today is May 25, Sunday of the Sixth Week of Easter.
Today, we’re given a powerful vision in the second reading from the Book of Revelation — a glimpse into the eternal worship of heaven: “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. 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” (Rev 21:22-23).
This image is breathtaking. It points to a reality beyond anything we can fully grasp here on earth. But it’s not entirely unfamiliar either — especially for those who’ve walked into Rome’s many ancient churches. Here in the Eternal City, countless apses are adorned with luminous mosaics depicting Christ at the center of the heavenly Jerusalem. One striking example is the Basilica of Santa Sabina, where Christ is enthroned amid a radiant vision of heaven.
These mosaics are not just decorative. They’re theological. They proclaim the truth that when we gather for the Eucharist, we are stepping into something far greater than ourselves. The Mass is not a mere ritual — it is an encounter with heaven. Every liturgy is a participation in the eternal worship of the Lamb.
That’s why John tells us in his vision that there is no need for the sun or moon in the heavenly city. Christ is the light. Christ is the temple. Christ is the Lamb, who was slain and now reigns in glory. And we are invited to join in that eternal praise.
Seeking what we’re made for
St. Augustine, in his masterwork “The City of God,” reflects on what this heavenly life will be like. He writes:
“There we shall rest and see, see and love, love and praise. This is what shall be in the end without end. For what other end do we propose to ourselves than to attain to the kingdom of which there is no end?”
That’s what we’re made for. That’s what it’s all about.
This is why we strive to live holy lives. This is why we examine our consciences, seek virtue and endure suffering with hope — so that one day we may be counted among the saints in glory, joining in the song of the Lamb.
So as we continue through the Easter season, let today’s reading lift your heart. Fix your eyes on heaven. Rejoice in the promise of eternal worship, love and rest in Christ.
Let us pray,
Grant, almighty God, that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, which we keep in honor of the risen Lord, and that what we relieve in remembrance we may always hold to in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
