They may gloat now, but...

The Church has stood strong against the world and has spoken powerfully against its sinful ways.

Many of the people of this world have resented the Church’s words.

These people now gloat and celebrate whenever the Church and its doctrine seem to suffer a defeat in this world.

So it is also in today’s first reading (Revelation 11:4-12) as the people of the world gloat and celebrate over the lifeless corpses of God’s prophets.

But no matter how things may seem now and no matter how bad things may get, the Church and the truth of God will be vindicated in power and glory.

The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets
tormented the inhabitants of the earth.

But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.

When they stood on their feet,
great fear fell on those who saw them.

Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them,
“Come up here.”

So they went up to heaven in a cloud
as their enemies looked on.

Be stouthearted and wait on the Lord.