God’s vision for the world will unfold. It’s the promise of the resurrection. It’s easy for us to look around the world today and be skeptical that change for the better can happen, when we see so much disfunction, anger, division, and violence.
But it’s also easy to overlook our own role in forming this new heaven and new earth. In some sense, the work of the gospel all depends on God, but in some sense it all depends on us. It’s as if there is a dance were going on between divinity and humanity which brings about the newness of God’s Kingdom.
One image I like, in thinking about God’s new creation, is the performance of a work of jazz. Although the notes on the page are the same, each performance of the piece is different, a new manifestation, a new creation that depends on the musician’s skill and interpretation of the piece. That’s why no two performances are the same. The notes of our life circumstances might stay the same, but how we play the tune makes all the difference.
The Christian message is ultimately one of hope. The light of the resurrection breaks through the darkness of evil and division. We are invited to help spread that light. God makes all things new. We pray that God will renew in us our baptismal call to be people of love, people of life, people who have a vision of a world united in the Spirit of Christ. And may we continue to be open to the many graces God has in store for us.
“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (John 15:16)
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