Alpha & Omega

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.” (Rev 1:8)

God, who has no beginning and no end, creates all through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ who is God, is the beginning and end of salvation history. St. Bernard of Clairvaux reflects on the Annunciation & Mary’s Fiat.

The beginning of God’s plan for our salvation is the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the New Eve, to whom God referred in the first book of the bible, the Book of Genesis 3:15. St. Bernard preached about how this event would take place in his homily: Prepared by the Most High, prefigured by the patriarchs.

This promise is repeated in the Book of Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel” (Is 7:14).

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;

upon his shoulder dominion rests.

They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,

Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.

His dominion is vast

and forever peaceful,

Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom,

which he confirms and sustains

By judgment and justice,

both now and forever.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this! (Is 9:5-6)

The end of God’s plan for our salvation is Mary, the Mother of the Church, and all her children who enter into Heaven, to whom God refers in the last book of the bible, the Book of Revelation 12:1.

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” (Rev. 12:1)

See post “Reflections on Spiritual Warfare“

“She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.” (Rev. 12:2)

See post “She was with child…“

“Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.” (Rev. 12:3-4)

See post “The Dragon’s Identity Genalogy“

“She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne.” (Rev. 12:5)

See post “End Times Perspectives“

“The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.” (Rev. 12:6)

See post “The Symbolism of the Woman“

“Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.” (Rev. 12:7-9)

See post “Understanding Revelation 12“

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time.” (Rev. 12:10-12)

See post “Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary“