e-vo for week of October 28

Dearest e-votees-

This Sunday there are two sets of appointed lessons—one for All Saints Day and the other for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost. We’ll use the appointed epistle lesson from the All Saints Day readings shape our time together.

May your time remembering saints alive and those who have gone before be blessed this weekend.

Peace,
Karl

--------------

Then I 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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them as their God;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he 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.”

And 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.” Ten he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Revelation 21:1-6a, NRSV

Revelation and people’s interpretations have caused plenty of excitement, confusion and problems. Some want to take it literally and have sold many, many books with fiction based on such a reading. Others want to take it as a book about the end times (“eschatological” would be the fancy seminary adjective for such literature). Still others want to experience this text now without being constrained to the literal reading. Where do you fall on this range of ways in which to engage the words of Revelation?

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that God’s word is living and active—and so is this text. Isaiah 55:10-11 remind us that God’s word does not return without fulfilling the purpose for which it is sent—and so it is with this text.

This text is grounded in our present reality and it speaks of how things will ultimately be.

God makes a home with us mortals. The word suggests that God makes a tent or a tabernacle with us (like God did with the folks during the exodus). God enters into our world (“eternity stepped into time” is how Michael Card sings it in “The Final Word”). Jesus came into time and interacted with the apostles and Mary, Martha and Lazarus and still is at work in the world and in our lives through the Holy Spirit. God is making all things new.

God will ultimately make a home with us mortals. Death will be no more. Tears will be gone. We catch glimpses of that this Sunday in the gospel text as Jesus brings Lazarus back from the dead (but not the final resurrection as he indeed died again). Mary and Martha tears are soothed for a time. God will bring that about for all of us who call on God and rest in God’s mercy. God will indeed renew all things.


God help us to know the blessings you have bestowed on us—now and those to come. Help us receive those blessings well. May we bless our neighbors now. May we bless and praise you now and always. You are the beginning and the end. Help us rest assured that our futures are in your gracious hands. Amen.