One Voice, One County, One Hope
This is the reflection that was sent out to the members and friends of St. Timothy Lutheran Church. It is on the second lesson.
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Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-6
1I
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. 2And I saw the holy city, the
new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned
for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4he 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.”
5And 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.” 6Then 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.”
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
4he 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.”
5And 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.” 6Then 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.”
This Sunday, in
addition to being the Fifth Sunday of Easter, is One Voice, One County, One
Hope Sunday. One Voice is the churches together speaking out on the addiction
problem. One County is Chautauqua County with its share of addiction issues. One
Hope is our Lord Jesus, the ultimate answer to the needs of all our hearts.
The reading
from Revelation is so apropos for this theme. God does not present a
refurbished old heaven and earth, but a new one. The holy city is the new
Jerusalem. God is making all things new—even humanity.
The thing is we
are not made new and left on our own, but God lives with mortals. God will be
with us, drying the tears we cry. Those addicted to opioids, cigarettes, alcohol
or anything else are made new in Christ and God is with them as
well—wiping their tears. “…mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for
the first things have passed away” (v. 4). This is true for everyone, whether
addict or not. There are many good and helpful forms of treatment, but
ultimately, only God can recreate and make a life brand new.
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