SEVEN

 

 

The title of my homily for this 33 Wednesday in Ordinary Time is “Seven!”

 

We’ve been listening to the Book of Revelation lately.

 

Did you notice that it features numbers?

 

I have run into people who are very much into numerology.  I’m not, but I am interested in what people are interested into. So here comes a few thoughts about numbers - especially the number seven.

 

A question: Do you have a favorite number?  If you were asked to pick a number, what number would you pick?

 

I  pick 5 for some reason. At times in life, when I see foggy windows or mirrors,  I write the number 5 with my index finger.  And then that number  fades and disappears.

 

Well, today’s first reading from the book of Revelation talks about seven angels and the seven last plagues.

 

I went through the Book of Revelation last night and I found 18 different categories of seven: seven churches, seven spirits, seven lampstands, seven stars, seven flaming torches, seven seals, seven horns, seven eyes, seven angels, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven golden bowls, seven loaves of bread, seven diadems, seven final plagues, seven kings, seven hills, seven heads.

 

The Book of Revelation is interesting, complex, confusing, mysterious, puzzling, head scratching and – tricky. That’s seven for starters.

 

Read it and I’m sure you find out that there is something about numbers in its codes and symbols.

 

Numbers can make life interesting.

 

We have 7 priests at San Alfonso.

 

There are 7 days in a week.

 

But in American money, there is no seven dollar bill.

 

What number do you wonder about – if any?

 

In God there are 3 persons.

 

In Christ there are two natures: human and divine.

 

The kid in the gospel has 7 loaves of bread and 2 fish.

 

We are to forgive each other at least 7 times – 70 times 7 times.

 

There are 7 sacraments - but there are 10 commandments.

 

I’m writing a book – called the 8^th Secret of Happiness. It’s seven secrets plus one. The eight secret is to do the other 7.

 

So, for a homily thought, do you have a favorite number?

 

For a second homily thought, what would be your 7 secrets of happiness.

 

And do you have any secrets of wisdom. If you say, “Yes” what are they.  Jot them down.

 

There it is – a way to end this homily.

 

Today’s gospel from Luke 21: 12-19 says you won’t know what to say when speaking. I know I don’t – other than saying that today’s first reading uses the number 7 – and he Book of Revelation. So why not jot down answers to these 7 questions:

 

The 7 most interesting people you have met?

 

The 7 questions you have for God when you meet God?

 

The 7 best books you’ve read?

 

The 7 best places you’ve been in?

The 7 best meals you’ve been at?

 

The 7 best memories in your head?

 

The 7 best sermons you’ve ever heard?

 

Okay,  make your favorite number to be one million.