March 22nd - Reflection

Isaiah 65:17-25 (NRSV)
God promises a new creation
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent its food shall be dust!

They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,

says the Lord.

Reflection
This is the way things are supposed to be it seems. People live together in love and harmony with one another and with God. It seems that a picture of the creation God intended is given in this passage.

As this vision is described and the words pop to life, we see what God has in store for us. Sure, our sinfulness messed the reality of this living up, but in this vision God gives us the hope of new living to come.

And that living won't come through our good intentions or good efforts. This vision will be made reality through the birth, life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus Christ. As Jesus comes into this world to make things right with God in the place of sinful humans.

And in this, is the awe of the story. In this is the love of God. In this act is salvation. What hope we have been given. What a Savior we have seen! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you have given us a Savior. You have shown us the vision. Use me and my fellow disciples to move this vision towards reality today in the love that you have placed in our hearts this day. --- Amen