Revelation Confusion

This is what happens when you start reading "the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what soon must take place." Namely, that I screwed up and accidentally read the reading from Proper 26 tonight at Evening Prayer instead of Proper 25, which would have been more appropriate. The major point here is that I didn't notice I read the wrong chapter in Revelation until I was finished reading the passage. There was so much talk about plaques and plagues and seals and trumpets that I found it hard to notice a disruption in the narrative flow.

Serious Anglican scholars have debated whether Revelation even deserves to be considered part of the Canon. Even Martin Luther had doubts about whether Revelation should be included in the New Testament. What can we say for sure about the book? The first to assign authorship to the apostle St. John was Justin Martyr, whose feast we celebrate on June 1st. We don't really know who penned Revelation and when. Most early scholars place the book during the latter part of the reign of the Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96), and relate much of its symbolic content to the politics of the day. Frankly, I don't have much time for the modern-day apocalyptics who find that Revelation somehow perfectly represents current modern geopolitical events. I have a hard enough time understanding even the manifest content, let alone the symbolism. And I suppose that's why I didn't realize until later that I had skipped seven days ahead.

Two more things:

• First, your Daily Officer is planning on a personal retreat during which he intends to finally master the Anglican Breviary. The dates have been set: November 13-17th. Play-by-play updates will follow.
• Second, Br. Joe's coments about Teresa of Avila are appreciated. I will select a more appropriate picture next year. It's good that unlike your favorite moments in the lectionary, you only have to wait one year for your favorite saint's day to come back. Meanwhile, tomorrow is All Saints' day. See everyone in church.