Thursday, April 24, 2025  

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Today's Scripture
Revelation 1:4–8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. (NRSV)

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Reflection

I alone know what you are thinking, said the magician to the hypnotized audience member. In fact, I control you — what you do and what you say.

Poof. 

In Thomas Mann’s chilling novella Mario and the Magician, written during Mussolini’s Italy, we see the increasing oppressive atmosphere of a town gripped by fear and anger. The central event is the arrival and performance of magician Cipolla. The magic act initially seems entertaining, involving hypnosis and simple illusions. It becomes much darker as Cipolla humiliates audience members, preys on vulnerabilities, and forces participants to act against their will.

The story serves as a powerful allegory for the rise of fascism and the dangers of charismatic figures who exploit people’s weaknesses and fears. Not to provide any spoilers here, but the story does not end well for Mario or the magician.

In contrast to Cipolla, today’s scripture reveals a God who is anything but a manipulative magician.

The writer John bursts forth with a powerful declaration of God’s — and Jesus’ — eternal being and enduring love. God’s authority is established, not as a distant and capricious demagogue, but as the source of all blessings.

“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” This is not a pronouncement of arbitrary, cruel power but is a profound statement of God’s intrinsic nature: God is eternally present and eternally faithful, sharing grace, peace, and love with each of us.

No blind obedience expected; no false abracadabra required. Instead, the true magic is that God’s love liberates and redeems us.

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Prayer
Dear God, you are our Alpha and Omega, nurturing us with peace and love. Please help us ward off evil magicians. Amen.

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Written by Phil Calian, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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