Sixth of Easter C
May 2007
The theme of last Sunday continues today.
I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride dressed for her husband.
Let's approach it from a slightly different angle today. As soon as Jesus of Nazareth had been baptised by John the Baptist and nominated by him as the one for whom the people of Israel were waiting, he, Jesus, began preaching throughout the land of Israel and quickly gathered a group of followers or disciples about him.
This group of followers were made up of two different types of people. The first consisted of the Apostles and the group of women who always accompanied them as we read in Luke 8; 'With him went the Twelve (Apostles), as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.' The second group consisted of a wide variety of people who joined the first group for a period of time before having to, or wanting to, return to their everyday lives and commitments.
This ever-changing group of people, with Jesus at its centre, tried to live in accordance with the teaching and example of Jesus; (Lk.6:36-38)
Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.
This group of people was the 'holy city' the 'new Jerusalem', the 'church', 'the kingdom of God’, the 'people of God' two thousand years ago.
Any group of people, who, conscious of God's presence in them, strive to live in this way today, are the 'holy city': the 'New Jerusalem' of the present time, irrespective of what church or religion they belong to.