A New Vision

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth…Look!
God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” (Rev. 21:1,3)
John, the gospel writer, the only apostle who was not martyred, shows us in Revelation 21, his vision of the future. A future heavenly kingdom where God, the creator of all life will live among us. In this season of Eastertide, we continue to celebrate the hope of new life that comes to us in the reality of a risen Savior. In his vision recorded in Revelation 21 and 22, the rich imagery of John describes for us a future that recalls the creative nature of God, and brings us back to Genesis, and the Garden of Eden. We hear these words of hope for the future at nearly every funeral, and in light of the change the people of the Upper St. Croix Parish will experience, we too can find hope in this new vision.
On Easter, I have heard or sung, “The Holy City” for over fifty years, but not until recently, when we our scripture lesson for last week and this week included these verses from Revelation, did I finally have a revelation of my own. The hope for a ‘New Jerusalem’, a restored Garden of Eden, isn’t some pipe dream of a future, in a galaxy far, far way, they are words of hope for us right here, right now. The second verse of that song talks about a ‘new earth’, the ‘New Jerusalem’ beside the tideless sea… the gates were open wide, and all who would might enter and no one was denied, there was ‘no need of moon or stars by night or sun to shine by day’ because ‘the light of God was on its streets.’
On the night of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples he washes their feet, and tells them to do likewise. He gives them a new commandment to ‘love others as he has loved them’, and ‘by doing this the world would know they were his disciples.’ Later, at the lakeshore, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. He tells Peter ‘if you love me, tend my sheep, feed my lambs, and follow me’. The new vision for the future, the hope for a new Jerusalem, a restored Eden, where God is present with us, can only happen when we, as Christ’s disciples, follow him and do as he commanded, ‘love one another’. God’s kingdom is present wherever people chose to live in loving relationship with one another.
The hope for the future of the people of the Upper St. Croix Parish, indeed for all people, lies solely on our obedience to love others as he loves us. We must be willing to step outside of our familiar, comfortable lives in our individual churches, and embrace a wider vision of the community of faith within the parish, to see a new vision and begin to cast our nets on the other side of the boat. A united parish over 150 strong, can accomplish much more when they work and love together, than they can by themselves. I pray that you will begin to see a new hope and a new vision, and that you will invite your new pastors to help you realize that vision, a new Jerusalem where God lives among you, where you live in Christian community in loving relationship with one another, then the light of God will illuminate your future.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Mike