"His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints."
(Revelation 19:8)
A white object emits or reflects all colors of the spectrum, a rainbow. For example the Sun emits at all frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum at once. A white linen reflects the Sun's colors. White, in this Divinely inspired context relates a concept of completeness, a wholeness, an integrity. White is all possible good deeds, all possible graces, all manner of virtues, all talents; thread together into one. There is no deprivation. Jesus, and his bride the Church, especially the completed Church post Resurrection is a manifestation of this Divine concept. And each individual angel and saint is a unique microcosm of this Divine white.
Traditionally, white is perhaps understood as purity. This is to some degree a valid interpretation. And yet it seems to lack depth. Surely God, who first conceived light and created all the subatomic objects which mediate light, means more. And with progress of our understanding through the ages, new subtleties are revealed until our brains are complete.
It is like two footballers playing the same position, say striker. One is a pro. He is skilled at scoring in one or two ways. He finds some level of success. The other striker is elite ... world class. This striker can score goals using his right foot, his left, his head. He can poach goals, score from distance, from free kicks, from penalties. He knows all the angles. He is a complete striker. For our purposes a white striker.
What can we take from this meditation? If we want to be saints perhaps we should not be one trick ponies before God and our neighbor. Strive to practice all manner of good deeds and all virtues from humble to magnanimous. Respond to all graces. Let the Holy Spirit take you out of your comfort zone. Let him take you where you would not go. The potential is there and Jesus is calling us to don the dazzling white linen in the end. Amen.
