BEHOLD I MAKE 
ALL THINGS NEW!

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 5th Sunday after Easter, Year C, is, “Behold, I make all things new!”

It’s the last line in today’s second reading. “Behold, I make all things new.”

There is something about a new car, a new house, a new gadget.

There is something about a new neighbor, a new boss, a new co-worker.

There is something about a new baby….

There is something about the new.

Politicians and preachers talk about a new vision, a new deal, a new plan, a new hope, a new day, a new way.

There is something about the new.

SECOND READING

In today’s second reading, John tells us all about the new: a new heavens and a new earth, a new Jerusalem, a new order.

The one who sits on the throne says, “Behold, I make all things new.”

YET! WHAT ABOUT THE OLD?

Yet, even though, there is something within us that calls for the new, we also know that there is something within us, that also appreciates the old.

Life always seems to have these opposites: new-old, hot-cold, night-day, sweet-sour, wide-narrow, female-male, winter-summer, wet-dry, sad-happy, remembered-forgotten, expensive-cheap, etc.

Do you prefer the new to the old or the old to the new?

Annapolis’ commerce and tourism – often seems to stress the old – lots of old red bricks and old houses – and sometimes the new causes traffic jams.

It takes time to know all this.

Jesus talked about the old as well as the new.

So like life, much is an “It all depends.”

A carpenter wants to talk about new chairs and new tables and a new house.

Dealers in old furniture want to talk about antiques.

TODAY’S GOSPEL AND FIRST READING

Jesus talks about both the old and the new. Be aware of new wine. Make sure you don’t put it in old wine skins. Jesus talks about good news. Change! Grow! Discover new life.

In today’s gospel Jesus talks about a new commandment – to love one another as he loved people. He simplifies the 10 commandments down to one commandment: notice, be aware of, love, listen to, treat, respect, be present to the people you meet each day.

Some rejected his new vision; some accepted it. Those who chose to follow Jesus became a gathering of new folks called “Christians.” And people noticed them and said, “See how they love one another.”

We’ve been hearing about this new group of people called “Christians” in these readings from the Acts of the Apostles that we hear after Easter especially.

Today we hear about Paul – who when he was Saul – went about trying to kill those who were following the New Way. He wanted things as they were. He didn’t like change. Then he was knocked to the ground – knocked to his senses – hit bottom – and rose a changed person – with a new name, Paul. Then he went about preaching Jesus New Way of living life – to the full.

OUR CHURCH

Our church has always been struggling with the new-old challenge.

All religions – all living religions – struggle with the new-old challenge. We see it going on in Islam right now.

All people – who are living – struggle with the new-old challenge.

We never know what’s going to happen today – what new experiences are going to hit us or happen to us.

THIS COUNTRY

This country was called, “The new world.” It still is for many. Way, way back, people migrated here – anthropologists say from Asia – crossing over the 58 mile Bering Strait to Alaska. They became the first natives of this world – North and South America. But it would be a long time later – thousands and thousands of years later, when Leaf Erickson and others and then Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue – and discovered something new – this world – Columbus thinking it was something old.

And people have been coming here ever since hoping for a change, hoping for a new life – a fresh start – in a new place.

When I see Western movies I think about those who lived in the East and went West for something new. Where do those in California, Hawaii and Alaska go when they want to go to the new?

There is something within us that wants the new. There is something in us that has a nostalgia for the old.

CONCLUSION: THREE BRIEF THOUGHTS

I’m not sure just how to end this – so let me go this way. Here are three brief thoughts for a conclusion. I hope they are brief.

1) Think:

We can get stuck in always wanting new or always wanting old. So we have to have an ongoing inner conversation about all this – to do good thinking about where we are in all this.

Some folks only like new; some folks only like old.

So life is an, “All depends.”

So life is sorting and discerning, weighing and figuring.

Sometimes you can teach an old dog new tricks and sometimes a new dog learns from an old dog. Maybe a dog who only goes, “Grrr, Grrr!” can learn a cute “Woof! Woof” I’m glad you’re home.”

Sometimes someone who only wants new, new, new, can discover the surprise of “The Antique Road Show” – and maybe also discover his or her mom and dad and grandparents had something of value to pass down.

When I was growing up, I never liked those water logged soggy green vegetables called string beans or asparagus. But they were the passport to dessert. Now, I always take string beans or asparagus that are still bright green – if it is cooked lightly, but especially if it’s baked – like on a grill. Umm good!

2) Every day is a new day.

Even though the world is 4 to 15 billion years old, each day is a new day. Each flower is a new flower – never to have grown before. I know I don’t take the time to stop to smell the flowers. I know I don’t take the time to stop to spot the flowers. Each day I meet people whom I don’t stop to be in there presence. I forget to slowly say to myself: this person is one of the 6 billion plus people on the planet. I won’t meet them all, but here is one. Listen to them. Be with them. Each new baby is a never before experience. Each person whether they are 9 or 90 is worth listening to – worth experiencing.

Don’t close down. Keep your eyes open for opportunities. Surprises are rising all the time – for those who watch for eye openers. I was at my sister, Mary, and her husband, Jerry’s, 50th Wedding Anniversary yesterday – up in New Jersey. Surprise, I notice my two grand nephews were having a great time taking pictures – but they only had one camera, so I gave them my digital camera – and it was great watching them going around the room as midget paparazzi – I’m dying to download the pictures to see what kids saw and what kids pictured at a 50th Wedding Anniversary.

3) Death is the necessary step before resurrection.

Even though we wrinkle and leak, even though we crumble and crack, even though we die and become dust, we Christians believe, there is New Life after this life. We believe – we profess it with our minds and our Creed, that because Christ rose from the dead, we too will be raised up from the dust. We believe that when we enter eternity, we’ll hear the message of today’s second reading: God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain. The old order has passed away. Then we’ hear the one on the throne say, “Behold, I make all things new!”