There’s always something interesting about visiting someone’s house for the first time. Walking through the house and yard can tell you a lot about that person’s interests, priorities, and values. Which items hold a prominent place? Which items are meticulously cared for, or dusty and unused? Which items are of the highest quality, or came at the greatest expense?
When you walk into our home, you might notice that we have a LOT of books. Seriously. A lot. There are books in literally every room - scholarly books and commentaries, children’s books, comic books, novels, poetry. Reading is both an interest and a value for us. We love to read individually and as a family, and love how stories have the power to bring us together, give us insight into people and places who are different from us, and elicit laughter, tears, surprise and wonder. We value reading as a key foundation for all kinds of learning, and make it a priority to read every day.
As you continue to walk around, the Christmas cards above the mantle might also catch your eye. Yes, I know it’s the end of May. Yes, the rest of our Christmas decorations are tucked away in the basement. But the photo cards brought me too much joy to simply toss them out after a few weeks on display. The many smiling faces surround us with warmth and connect us to friends and family who we don’t often see in person.
Entering the dining room, you’ll see a big table that gets even bigger. Even though the three of us could fit quite easily around a smaller table, we love being able to host gatherings and find great value in sharing meals.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea! The things that are featured prominently in our house give a glimpse of how we spend our time and money, and what we value and care about.
This morning’s second reading from Revelation gives us an extensive tour of the new Jerusalem, the holy city coming down out of heaven from God. In this tour, we learn a lot about God’s interests, priorities, and values.
Perhaps the first notable thing is that John of Patmos, who is recounting this vision, doesn’t have to travel to some other dimension to see the new Jerusalem. Instead, from his place on a high mountain, John sees that the city is coming down to earth, that God comes to dwell with us.
In the verses that come immediately before today’s reading, we learn about the layout and building materials used in this city. The city is a large square - four equal sides that stretch farther than any city that can be imagined. It is surrounded by a high wall, and each of the four sides have three gates, which are always open. The walls, buildings, and roads are made from gold and precious stones.
The city is a thing of beauty - luminous and bright, infused with the glory of God. In this setting, beauty and quality are not hidden behind closed doors, limited to certain areas populated by the wealthy, but rather abundantly and extravagantly available to all.
From the walls that surround the city, we see that God values community and security, while the perpetually open gates show us that accessibility and welcome are a priority.
Noticeably absent from this city is a temple, which was the focal point of religious life in Jerusalem. The temple contained the presence of God, accessible to the people through the mediation of priests and rituals. But here, in the new Jerusalem, no temple is needed, because “its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.” God values being with and among God’s people.
Through the middle of the city flows the river of the water of life, bright as crystal. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit. Fruit for the people to eat grows all year, with no season of barrenness or decay. The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. From the central place held by the river and the tree, we see that God values life and growth and nourishment and healing and wholeness for all of God’s people.
In this city, nothing accursed will be found. No hunger or pain. No suffering or death. No fear or anguish. No heartbreaking, impossible choices. No brokenness or shame. No -isms or discrimination or division. Instead, all people will be united by their worship of God and the Lamb. All people will see God’s face without fear. All people will be called God’s own, and on their foreheads shall be God’s name.
What a beautiful vision this is! A picture of brightness and joy, of wholeness and life, of relationship and community. God is not somewhere far off or inaccessible, but right there in the midst of God’s people.
It doesn’t take long to recognize all the ways our current reality differs from this picture. Illness, gross inequality, division, discord, war...the list goes on. And yet, even in the midst of brokenness and pain and shadows, God has not abandoned us.
Even now, the gates are open to us and to all. Even now, we ourselves are beautiful, luminous, and bright - made in the image of God, filled with the presence of God. Even now, the river of the water of life washes over us in baptism, cleansing us from sin and uniting us with God and with one another. Even now, God’s name is marked on us in baptism, as we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”
Called as God’s own, filled with the Spirit, we trust God’s promises and seek to live into this vision of wholeness and life even here and now.
When you walk into our home, you might notice that we have a LOT of books. Seriously. A lot. There are books in literally every room - scholarly books and commentaries, children’s books, comic books, novels, poetry. Reading is both an interest and a value for us. We love to read individually and as a family, and love how stories have the power to bring us together, give us insight into people and places who are different from us, and elicit laughter, tears, surprise and wonder. We value reading as a key foundation for all kinds of learning, and make it a priority to read every day.
As you continue to walk around, the Christmas cards above the mantle might also catch your eye. Yes, I know it’s the end of May. Yes, the rest of our Christmas decorations are tucked away in the basement. But the photo cards brought me too much joy to simply toss them out after a few weeks on display. The many smiling faces surround us with warmth and connect us to friends and family who we don’t often see in person.
Entering the dining room, you’ll see a big table that gets even bigger. Even though the three of us could fit quite easily around a smaller table, we love being able to host gatherings and find great value in sharing meals.
I could go on, but I think you get the idea! The things that are featured prominently in our house give a glimpse of how we spend our time and money, and what we value and care about.
This morning’s second reading from Revelation gives us an extensive tour of the new Jerusalem, the holy city coming down out of heaven from God. In this tour, we learn a lot about God’s interests, priorities, and values.
Perhaps the first notable thing is that John of Patmos, who is recounting this vision, doesn’t have to travel to some other dimension to see the new Jerusalem. Instead, from his place on a high mountain, John sees that the city is coming down to earth, that God comes to dwell with us.
In the verses that come immediately before today’s reading, we learn about the layout and building materials used in this city. The city is a large square - four equal sides that stretch farther than any city that can be imagined. It is surrounded by a high wall, and each of the four sides have three gates, which are always open. The walls, buildings, and roads are made from gold and precious stones.
The city is a thing of beauty - luminous and bright, infused with the glory of God. In this setting, beauty and quality are not hidden behind closed doors, limited to certain areas populated by the wealthy, but rather abundantly and extravagantly available to all.
From the walls that surround the city, we see that God values community and security, while the perpetually open gates show us that accessibility and welcome are a priority.
Noticeably absent from this city is a temple, which was the focal point of religious life in Jerusalem. The temple contained the presence of God, accessible to the people through the mediation of priests and rituals. But here, in the new Jerusalem, no temple is needed, because “its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.” God values being with and among God’s people.
Through the middle of the city flows the river of the water of life, bright as crystal. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit. Fruit for the people to eat grows all year, with no season of barrenness or decay. The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. From the central place held by the river and the tree, we see that God values life and growth and nourishment and healing and wholeness for all of God’s people.
In this city, nothing accursed will be found. No hunger or pain. No suffering or death. No fear or anguish. No heartbreaking, impossible choices. No brokenness or shame. No -isms or discrimination or division. Instead, all people will be united by their worship of God and the Lamb. All people will see God’s face without fear. All people will be called God’s own, and on their foreheads shall be God’s name.
What a beautiful vision this is! A picture of brightness and joy, of wholeness and life, of relationship and community. God is not somewhere far off or inaccessible, but right there in the midst of God’s people.
It doesn’t take long to recognize all the ways our current reality differs from this picture. Illness, gross inequality, division, discord, war...the list goes on. And yet, even in the midst of brokenness and pain and shadows, God has not abandoned us.
Even now, the gates are open to us and to all. Even now, we ourselves are beautiful, luminous, and bright - made in the image of God, filled with the presence of God. Even now, the river of the water of life washes over us in baptism, cleansing us from sin and uniting us with God and with one another. Even now, God’s name is marked on us in baptism, as we are “sealed with the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”
Called as God’s own, filled with the Spirit, we trust God’s promises and seek to live into this vision of wholeness and life even here and now.
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