Revelation 3: Superficiality, Fidelity, and Mediocrity
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
To the church in Sardis . . . I know your works, that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead . . .
To the church in Philadelphia . . . You have limited strength, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name . . .
To the church in Laodicea . . . I know that you are neither hot or cold . . .
Today we read the greetings to three of the seven churches addressed by John in the last book of the Bible. The seven represent the universal church. Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea have something special to tell us.
Notes will inform us that Sardis was once a capital city and was noted for its immense wealth at the time of Croesus in the 6th century before Christ. It had a fortress with the fame of being impregnable, yet it was taken by surprise by both Cyrus and Antiochus. This church gives the appearance of being unassailable . . . but is warned to be on its guard. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete . . .
We will also learn that Philadelphia was rebuilt by the Emperor Tiberius in C.E. 17 after a different quake. It may be for this reason that there are references to its royal nature. Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial that is going to come . . .
Laodicea was a wealthy industrial and commercial center eighty miles east of Ephesus that exported beautiful woolen garments. It had a famous medical school and was known for an eye salve that could be purchased there and the people had so much money that they were able to rebuild after a devastating earthquake about sixty years after Christ. And they did this with no outside help. They were able to stand in their own and were beholding to no one. For you say, “I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,” and yet you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see . . . (Senior 403-404)
Here we have the faithful church sandwiched between the complacent, self-satisfied, self-protecting churches. As we contemplate this juxtaposition, we might ask ourselves where we stand today. Are content with doing just enough? Do we tend to appearance and neglect the inner self? Are we bothered by poverty of all kinds, or do we brush it away where we cannot see it? Do we even allow ourselves to see suffering in any way? If we do, how do we react? We can spend time in Revelation 2 and 3 and wonder how our preparations for a guest compare with how we prepare ourselves to receive Christ. Now we focus on three churches that bring us a special window we might open into our own souls. Are we superficial? Are we content with mediocrity? Do we follow Christ faithfully even though the journey of life has taken its toll?
Superficiality, Fidelity, or Mediocrity . . . how do we choose to live? What is our guiding principal? Whom do we follow? Why and how do we do what we do? The Book of Revelation announces what Christ expects. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the spirit says to the churches.
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.403-404. Print.
For more images of a pilgrimage to the churches, click on the images of Sardis or Laodicea above, or visit: http://www.farnborough-kent-parish.org.uk/recent_turkey.html
Images from: https://sardisexpedition.org/en/essays/latw-yegul-temple-of-artemis and https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297991-d4374149-r340542143-Laodicea-Denizli.html and https://wowcappadocia.com/philadelphia-ancient-city.html
Adapted from a Favorite written on March 27, 2011.
The Noontimes 