The Kingdom of God: Thanksgiving, English Martyrs, and Ferguson
I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven last plagues, for through them God’s fury is accomplished. Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image and the number that signified its name. They were holding God’s harps, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty.” —Revelation 15:1-3b In these final days of the Church Year, the daily Readings present images of plagues, persecution, and parousia . They certainly stand in stark contrast with the festive Thanksgiving spirit that we try to claim as a nation, even as families hurry through their holiday meals to rush out for Black Friday deals… on Thanksgiving. The mix of the end-of-times language and imagery presented by our liturgy and the abundance of Thanksgivi...