The Renewal by God

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, 4th Week of Lent, Monday 28th March, 2022
Texts: Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13; John 4:43-54
God tells us, in today’s first reading, that he is creating new heavens and a new earth. Earth is the place we are now and it is also what we are. Creating a new earth means God is renewing the face of the earth and also working out something new in us. The heavens are our future. Creating new heavens means God is preparing for us better future. This creation of new heavens and a new earth is not a jettison of forms of heavens and a form of earth for another but a renewal of the existing heavens and earth. This is clear in today’s first reading when it is said, “and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping or the cry of distress.” The creation brings about a change in condition rather than in nature: change from fear to confidence, change from sorrow to joy, change from slavery to freedom, change from despair to hope, change from culture of death to culture of life, change from scarcity to abundance, change from distress to vitality, change from vicious life to virtuous life, change from insecurity to security, etc.
God is doing new things but only those who believe the words of God reap the fruits of the new things He is doing. This is true about the official in today’s gospel reading. It is also true about us. In the gospel reading, it is said, “The official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your son will live.’ The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living.” This shows that faith in the words of God has the capacity to change our condition. In the case of the son of the official, the faith of his father changed his condition from death to life. This also tells us that our faith could be of help to others.  
It should also be noted, today, that having faith in the words of God is not all about having confidence in His promises and declarations but also obeying His commands. God told the official that his son had been healed and also command him to go. He believed the declaration and also obey the commanded that he should go. Just as we believe the declaration of God about us and the His promise, we should also obey His commands. The problem of some of us is that we are confident of the declaration and promise  of God but often fail to obey his command.  

O God, who renew the world through mysteries beyond all telling, grant, we pray, that your Church may be guided by your eternal design and not be deprived of your help in this present age. Amen (Collect)  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke