(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)
I like numbers and mathematics. I have learned that mathematics drives the universe. Numbers have real and symbolic meanings. I think of the 144,000 from the book of Revelation. One hundred forty-four is twelve squared, twelve standing for the twelve tribes of Israel, and the thousands representing infinity. This makes a real and a symbolic number.
Flowers grow in a Fibonacci series, a ratio of 1 to 0.618. The notes of the scale follow mathematical proportions: an octave vibrates at twice the frequency of the simple note. The whistle on a train sounds an F flat. When everything fits together perfectly, we speak of harmonious relations. When things do not work out well, we speak of noise, the lack of harmony and the presence of dissonance. All of this tells us whether the mathematics of things are working together or not. When our lives are in order, we have music in our lives.
The one hundred forty-four are in tune with the Lamb. They make music with the Lamb and the music is a new hymn which only those hundred forty-four can learn because only their lives are in tune with the Lamb.
In keeping with the images of the book of Revelation, we have to look upon heaven as the song of the redeemed for the Lamb and God. We shall have to sing in heaven. I know, that some of you do not like to sing and think that singing in heaven is not their idea of fun. The harmony of heaven, however, uses musical notation with its mathematical properties to represent heaven. The harmony in our lives will produce the music we shall sing. This music will flow from our actions, not our throats. Our lives will be our song and our music beyond beauty.
All this will take place on the mystic mountain of God’s presence, Mount Zion, where all the hundred forty-four thousands will be gathered for the final dress rehearsal for this grand day of the Lord.
John saw this. He invites us to see it also. May the numbers and ratios work out so that the whole of creation sing with us the new hymn of praise to our God and to the Lamb.