The Book of Revelation leaves many of us puzzled. However, the New Jerome Biblical Commentary helps us make sense of at least some of its more difficult passages. On Revelation the commentary says "secrets are revealed in order to present a particular interpretation of the times and to persuade the hearers and the readers to think and live in a certain way." The "secret" revealed in today's First Reading is that no merely human authority can claim dominion over the world of men and women. God alone is the final judge of what is right and wrong in human conduct. Arrogant human pretensions will end up in failure. The truth will emerge in the end. Those who remain faithful to God will be vindicated.

The Gospel ends on a similar note. It brings comfort to those who have "hung on", faithful to the end. The collapse of brutal, corrupt, immoral regimes is a sign that God will prevail. Even when the universe itself is shaken we must not fear because the passing nature of all created things foretells the emergence of God's kingdom, a kingdom of truth, justice, peace and beauty. Any wonder then that today's Responsorial Psalm tells us to "Know that the Lord is God"?