5^th Sunday of Easter (C); May 19, 2019

Acts 14:21b-27   Ps 145   Rv 21:1-5a   Jn 13:31-35

St. John the Baptist C.C.; Deacon Jim McFadden

 

Today, I’d like to focus on the striking second reading from the Book of Revelation, which is the very end of the last book of the Bible. This passage brings us to the climax of the Biblical story. The whole trajectory of the Bible has been moving to this point. Now, we are at the climax of Salvation History in which God reveals his presence and saving actions through major events and persons. So, we listen to the beautiful vision of St. John the Evangelist and hear:   “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” (Rv 21:1).

John does not view this world as a prison, something to be escaped so that we can enter a higher realm called heaven. He doesn’t imagine that we are to abandon this world; rather, he imagines that God will transform it. He thinks that creation will be perfected, purified, and transfigured. There will be a new heaven and a new earth. We won’t run away from creation, we won’t be lifted above it, but we will watch it become transformed.

Keep in mind, brothers and sisters, that the Bible teaches us that God made everything in Creation and found it to be very good. He just didn’t make the spiritual realm of things unseen, but he made the material realm as well. He found it all very good.

That’s why God is not just interested in destroying or abandoning this world. God doesn’t give up on it. We do sometimes, especially how we pollute it and do violence to creation. But, God doesn’t. God is not going to destroy what he has so lovingly and non-violently created. Rather, God has been endeavoring to save it. And, in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, God is going to bring about a new order where everything is in right relationship.   God doesn’t want to destroy the world; he wants to save the world: through the Resurrection, there will be a new heaven and a new earth!   But, for that to happen, something has to give way.

What would that be? Notice the detail that John tells us that the “sea is no more.” Now, that doesn’t mean that God’s got something against water. But, remember the second verse of the Book of Genesis that God brings order out of this void and wasteland—this watery chaos. God speaks and out of his Word comes order in the universe. Therefore, in this context the sea stands for the power of sin. The sea stands for hatred, corruption, and violence.   I am sure you can identify the “sea” within our current world condition.   John’s point is that all of that will finally disappear when God makes a new heaven and a new earth. Through God’s gracious intervention, everything that torments us, the power of sin is swallowed up.

Later in the passage we hear that “…every tear will be wiped away” and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away” (v. 4). Aren’t these words deeply comforting? Think of all the tears we’ve shed. Think of all the sadness watching those whom we love suffer. Think of all that has been lost as we slog through life. But, there will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain. Every tear will be wiped away. That’s what God promises.

Church, that’s how the story ends! God will not allow the dark powers to have the final word. He will conquer them in the end. The story ends with the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead that brings a new heaven and a new earth.

Then we hear this: “I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (v. 2)—this is the great vision of Jesus being wedded to the Church, which is the People of God. But, notice the movement is not from the earth upward, which would be a game-plan of escaping from the world. Rather, the movement is from heaven downward, which means God coming to re-make the Earth. He enters into our world and with our cooperation, the “two shall become one.”

How wonderful what he has in mind is a city, the new Jerusalem. A city—a place where everything is happening; a city where everything is in right relationship. It’s a place where all human powers are engaged. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, everything is bursting with life: God’s grace has come to re-make the world and now all of our powers are engaged: sin, injustice, and corruption are wiped away.   In and through the Risen Christ, all of us are fully alive. That’s how the Biblical story ends.

So, in the Revelation vision we have the One who sat on the throne, who said “Behold I make all things new” (v. 5). Jesus is returning to be king of this new creation. He will sit on the throne. His agenda is renewal of the world not escape from it.   In this Biblical vision God does not give up on his creation but he intends to save it! Put another way, God does not give up on us; he can’t because God is Love and so he loves us without any reservation. That’s why Jesus, God in the Flesh, died for us so that we may be saved and have life everlasting.

Church, God is making us new. Let us rejoice and resolve to do the Lord’s work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.