Today our scripture readings are rich in images of beauty, joy, rejoicing, healing, and faith. Not a bad theme to be reflecting on with Easter less than three weeks away. In this part of the country, we see signs of spring all around us: flowers, longer day light (are you over the "jet lag" yet?) and warmer temperatures. We live surrounded by beauty from the design of a grand artist.
In Isaiah 65: 17-21 the Lord says: "I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. . ." and then the part we all like, ". . .He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years . . ." We've discovered the fountain of youth! While I'm not sure I would like to live past 100 but if that is considered "youth" then I'd go for it. Is God saying that the hundreds are the new twenties? This image of new life and freshness, the springtime as the late Pope John Paul II referred to a new age for the Church, is presented by Isaiah in these poetic metaphors to give us hope that God is ultimately in control of all things, that he has not abandoned his creation and would never abandon us. It's pretty much a feel good theme today.
The Gospel of John 4: 43-54 likewise presents a healing story - which always should bring reassurance to us that Jesus is indeed the anointed one. New life is given to the child of a royal official (a Gentile) who clearly has a preconceived idea of what Jesus can do. It reveals that many non-Jews of that time were fascinated by Jesus. In his desperate situation, love for his son who is near death, he comes to Jesus and pleads that Our Lord do something. He has no doubt that he can; the man has faith: "Sir, come down before my child dies." Then Jesus tests that conviction and does something that we don't often see: he heals the child from a distance. He does not "come down" to the official's house but rather, with simply a word, says to the official: "You may go; your son will live." The official right away returns to his home by the Sea, convinced that the mere word of Jesus will be enough to heal - and it does. The official's son "will live."
Not much to argue about in these readings but certainly much to be grateful for. Yet, with Holy Week and Easter on the horizon maybe we should have some sort of personal reality check. When I am confronted with such rich images as I hear in Isaiah, I begin to ask myself, "So, where is this "new heavens and a new earth?"
If we seriously pondered what we hear on the news each day: differences of opinion as to how our Government should be run, who should lead and in what party, scandal in the Church and insistance by some that certain Bishops should be hung drawn and quartered (not my feeling)for their lack of leadership and cover up of clergy misbehavior, the natural disasters of earthquakes, blizzards, floods, and a lame economy as the jobless rate continues to rise, etec., we'd be filled with despair. So, in order to soften the shock of reality, I think most of us just let it roll off the surface, wring our hands, say "Tisk, Tisk" or "Shame, shame" then move on with our lives. It's too much to handle; too much sensory overload. About all I can handle is today.
But, God has interrupted our misery. "Misery loves company" as the saying goes and God is not about to let us plan our pity party without pushing his way into our lives with a promise of something better. That something better is the promise of new life - despair, hopelessness, pity have no place in the life of a faith filled Christian. Our sacraments of Reconciliation and our Eucharistic gatherings are not about guilt, fear, or anxiety. They are about this new heaven. "But I don't see it!" you might say. We'll frankly, neither do I if we think God will just wave his divine hand and recreate the Garden of Eden. As I said to someone one time who was lamenting on how terrible things were: "Well, this isn't heaven and we are not angels."
That's just the point. The "new heavens and a new earth" is something yet to be fulfilled. But, as we wait for that final day, all is not lost by any means. The very presence of Christ among us is the sign of the Father's love. We see him in sacrament, in his sacred Word, in the Church (though tarnished at times)and in our shared faith. The promise of forgiveness and reconciliation restores us to friendship again with God. No longer are we advesaries but now we are recipients of God's covenant and the cross of Christ is the ultimate sign of that promise - forever.
So, where does this leave us? Should we just sit and wait for the ultimate paradigm shift? The final sending forth at the end of each Mass reminds us that our Christian faith is not passive but active - "Go, to love and serve the Lord." Live as if you honestly believe that with God all things are possible and all things are indeed "a new creation."
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