Creating New Heavens and a New Earth

Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday, 4th Week of Lent, Year B, March  15th, 2021
Texts: Is. 65:17-21; Ps. 30:2.4-6.11-13; John 4:43-54
We are reminded, today, that Lent is a season in which we open and give up ourselves to God, that He may create us anew. Lent is a season that affords us the opportunity to encounter the creating power of God, that we might be made new. If we have been faithful to our Lenten observances- prayer, fasting, almsgivings, devotion to God's word, reflection on our Lord's passions (Stations of the Cross), penance, etc- we will be sprouting newness now. Hence, God, in today's first reading, says, "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." The word, 'create' is in present simple tense to show that it is an action of God that is ever true. It is neither 'I am creating' to show that it is the action of the moment, nor it is 'I will create' to show that it is a promise, but 'I create' to show that it is ever true, that it is something He always does, that it is something  integral to His nature and worthy of our faith.
The creation of new heavens and a new earth reminds of the beginning when God created heaven and earth from formless void and darkness; for it is said, "In the beginning God created heaven and earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, with a divine wind sweeping over the waters" (Gen. 1:1-2). This imprints in our minds that the creation of new heavens and a new earth means a new order of creation. Our sins and wickedness stand for the formless void and the darkness. Hence, the creation of new heavens and new earth means God will remember our sins no more, He will open for us a new page, He will give us a new opportunity to begin afresh. Today, we are to know that it is ever true that God gives us new opportunity to begin afresh, it is what He always does, it is integral to His nature to open for us a new page, it is what He does every day and always. Whenever we wake up each day we have a new opportunity to begin anew, a new opportunity to turn a new leaf.
The meaning of the creation of new heavens and a new earth ultimately points to our life in Jesus Christ; for it is in Him we become a new creation. St. Paul says, "So for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old order is gone and a new being is there to see" (2Cor. 5:17). It is in Jesus Christ that the new order of creation ultimately takes place. This new creation is achieved by our faith in Jesus Christ. By our faith in Him we put Him on and become a new creation, leaving behind our old selves. We put on Christ when we become another christs.
God calls us, today, to be glad and rejoice in what He creates. Let us be glad and rejoice in the opportunity He gives us every day to begin anew; let us be glad and rejoice in the order of creation we enjoy in Christ. This is also a call that our joy should be in God, not in worldly things. The joy in God endures, but the joy in worldly things quickly fades and does not last. In the new order of creation, our joy shall be in God and God Himself shall be glad and rejoice in us, for He sees in us the image of His Son whom we put on, the  Son in whom He is well pleased (Mtt. 3:17). When our joy is in God, there shall be no more weeping or cry of distress in our midst. We shall live long and fulfilled life because of our joy in God, and we will enjoy the fruits of our labour.
Today's gospel reading reminds us that it is the acceptance of Jesus Christ into one's life that brings the new creation. The acceptance comes  by having faith in Him. Jesus tells us, today, that faith is independent of sign. He puts it thus: "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” Jesus restores the child of the official to good health of mind and body. Jesus Christ has come to bring healing to the soul of man, to heal him the diseases of the soul, which is sin.


God our Father, we thank you for creating us always, we pray you to grant us the grace to always make ourselves available for your creating power. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke