Resurrection Renewal

Revelation 21:1-6

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
21:2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them;
21:4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
21:5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
21:6 Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

John 13:31-35

13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.
13:32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.
13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'
13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Dulverton Sermon

Today is day 29 of the 50 days of Easter and the readings point us to the work of Christ in heaven and ourselves on earth since the Resurrection.

First, in the Revelation reading, the risen, ascended, glorified Lord says "I am making the whole of creation new".

Soap powder makers produce "new Daz" and socialists "new Labour" but Christ our Lord makes "a new heaven and a new earth". Sorrow is to be forgotten; sin is to be vanquished; darkness is to be at an end; the temporariness of time is to turn into the everlastingness of eternity. Because of this we acclaim in each eucharist "Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again". Our faith and vision is that when Christ's work of renewal is complete he will reveal himself again and reign for ever over all his work.

Secondly, in the reading from John's gospel, through words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper we know what he wants us to be doing between his resurrection and his return in glory: "My little children, love one another as I have loved you". This is not a message to the world but a message to the church. His first disciples were those he addressed as "my little children". These words are not for our worldly neighbours but for us. The Lord at the Last Supper, as at today's Eucharist, is speaking of the special bond of love that should unite all who bear his name. Within the Christian fellowship each is to be linked to each by a love like that of Christ fro each. Of course, this is impossible unless we are as branches in the one vine. Only he can make this possible by his grace.

The saints are signposts to what we are called to be. In our human sinfulness and frailty it can be a great encouragement to take a favourite saint and consider what the grace of the Lord Jesus was able to accomplish in them. Realising that humanly speaking they were no different to ourselves we can see what that same grace might accomplish in us.

This has always been a spiritual aid in my personal pilgrimage. Naturally I began with Peter and soon added John and Charles Wesley. Then Francis of Assisi took over before I came to a period with Ignatius of Loyola. Always with each of these there was Mary, our Lord's mother and now she stands supreme which is perhaps appropriate living in a seaside town where the parish church is dedicated to her.

May is Mary's month. For me she is the one who fills me with hope in the Lord. So simple and straightforward in her love for her son he has been able to make her "mother of the church" and "queen of heaven".

He who makes all things new can make us new too. Alleluia!
He can make us full of love like his saints, like his mother. Alleluia!