Reflection on the Word in our Worship
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, 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, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
-Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)
When the soul has been regenerated by the grace of God and restored to its integrity and made subject to him alone by whom it was created, its body too will be restored to its original strength, and it will receive power to possess the world, not to be possessed by the world. Then it will have no evil. For the lowly beauty of temporal changes will not involve it, for it will have been raised above change. There will be, as it is written, a new heaven and a new earth, and there souls will not have to do their part in toiling but will reign over the universe. “All things are yours,” says the apostle, “and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” -St. Augustine, Of True Religion 23.44
The Collect of the Week
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Word:
(Click on the links below to read Sunday's passages)
First Reading: Acts 14:8-18
Psalm 67 (below playlist)
Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-4, 22–22:5
Gospel Reading: John 14:21-29
Psalm 67
1 May God be merciful unto us, and bless us, *
and show us the light of his countenance,
and be merciful unto us.
2 Let your way be known upon earth, *
your saving health among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
indeed, let all the peoples praise you.
4 O let the nations rejoice and be glad, *
for you shall judge the peoples righteously,
and govern the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.
6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, *
and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.
7 God shall bless us, *
and all the ends of the world shall fear him.
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