Reflections on Our Center Stained Glass Window

-Fr. Neil Dhabliwala

Blessed on March 24, 2024

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On the front of our altar in the sanctuary, the Greek letters, Alpha (A) and Omega (Ω), are displayed.  These are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and are also the title given to Christ in the Book of Revelation: “…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end” (Rev. 21:6).  This theme encapsulates the imagery contained in our new stained glass window.

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Christ truly is the Alpha, the beginning of all things.  We read in the book of Genesis that “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).  And then in the prologue of the Gospel of John, we read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God" (John 1: 1-2).  

 

The image of Christ in the center of the window with the rays of the sun and stars emanating outward from Him also reminds us that He is the one through whom creation came to be: "All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be. What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1: 3-5).  And further, in the mystery of the incarnation, He stands as the crown of creation: “And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1: 14).

 

Christ is also truly the Omega, the end or destiny of all things. The image of Christ, wearing royal vestments, seated on the throne with a crown on His head, holding the world in His hand with the angels surrounding Him evokes the theme of the Book of Revelation when Christ will return in His glory and will be seated upon His throne as king and judge of the world.  Christ, Himself, foretold His return in glory in the Gospels when He was on trial before the high priest before His crucifixion: “‘You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven’” (Mark 14: 62; Matt. 26: 64; Luke 22: 69).  Further, we call to mind the image of the judgment of the nations in Matthew’s Gospel: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matt. 25: 31-32).  

 

The depiction of Christ, however, with His arms extended, as well as the images of the Sacred Heart and the cross on top of the world remind us that Christ is not a judge who has come to condemn us, but rather, He is the true shepherd king and priest who rules us sanctifies us in accordance with His sacrificial, merciful love.  It is precisely the love of His Sacred Heart, pierced on the cross for us, and the work of the Holy Spirit (depicted by the dove hovering over Christ) which heals, restores, renews, and saves us, and ultimately draws all creation back to Himself: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be His people, and God Himself will always be with them as their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.’  The one who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Rev. 21: 1-5a).