The ones who will have the places of honor at the heavenly banquet of the Lamb will be the ones who have the Lamb and his Father's names written on their foreheads (as the first reading tells us today); they will be the only ones singing a new hymn to God (learned from a special grace of intimacy they have had with the Lamb and his Father); they will be the ones who, while on earth, thought of the needs of others' first, rather than their own – who even gave their last coin for someone's else's benefit (as Jesus relates his approval in the gospel passage).
The formula for success as God sees it – and his is the only perspective that counts – is: once empowered by incorporation (by Baptism), live as much as you possibly can a life of self-sacrifice and giving: and you will hear heavenly music: and your whole life will be the new hymn to the Lamb and his Father – and as a reward, one day you will be seated at a place of honor at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb!
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain! – and who gives to the needy and the poor!
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