The New Jerusalem - Fifth Sunday of Eastertide.

Even in these troubled and suffering times for the Church in this country. Now more than ever, we need to know that God is coming to meet us and that he is showing us that our true home is only in him.

[se gjerne H2Onews audiovisuelle sider, for 5. søndag i påsketiden] Acts 14, 21-27; Revelation 21, 1-5; John 13, 31-35

I sometimes think it’s a great pity that we have to wait a whole week between the Sunday readings because we tend to miss out on the sense of continuity. Last week, we had the Good Shepherd leading his flock home to the Father, while this week we are given a picture of that home, the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven “all clothed in readiness, like a bride adorned to meet her husband”.

The first reading from Acts has already warned us that we cannot enter the Kingdom of God without enduring many trials. However, immediately afterwards in this second reading, we receive the assurance that when we reach the New Jerusalem - which is itself already coming to meet us - God will wipe away all our tears.  There will be no more death or mourning, no more sorrow or cries of distress, for he, the Good shepherd, will “make all things new”!

In fact, by his death and resurrection, he has already made all things new! The Kingdom of God, the City of God, the New Jerusalem, is already present within us around us if only we can open our eyes to it. It’s not a “pie in the sky when you die” promise for some distant future, but already present within us.   Here!   Now!   Even in these troubled and suffering times for the Church in this country. Now more than ever, we need to know that God is coming to meet us and that he is showing us that our true home is only in him.

Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you”, but how can we experience it, how can we touch it, when the foundations seem to be crumbling? The answer lies in the gospel reading for today. He gives us a new commandment - a new commandment for the New Jerusalem, the City of God: “Love one another! Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another!”

When you think about it, this is a pretty tall order, “Love - just as I have loved you”!  Not easy! But it’s the only way that we can be recognised as his followers. Love is a choice, not a feeling; it is a decision to give oneself to and for the Other. It may be, and usually is, backed up and supported by our emotions bringing us joy and warmth in our relationships. But to be true love, it must also have the willingness to give itself away for the sake of the beloved, whatever the price.

It doesn’t matter whether the beloved is God, boy-friend, girl-friend, parents, children...   The hallmark is always the self-giving that accompanies it, “costing not less than everything”!

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Sr. Elaine OSC

Høysteinane Kloster,

Larvik.