A New Heaven and A New Earth

In contrast to the post-Christian culture today, which sees Christianity as old, the apostles saw Christianity as new. In Revelation, St. John, sees a vision of a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem. And the one who sat on the throne says, "Behold, I come to make all things new." 
              St. John was able to recognize Christianity as new and thrilling because it was a way out of the old - the old cycles of sin around him. Christianity was a way out of the pursuit of pleasure, greed, power and fame that was consuming the Roman Empire.
Today, we are all growing increasingly aware that the pursuit of pleasure, greed, power and fame are consuming our own world today. Perhaps fifty years ago, a sinful and licentious lifestyle felt new and thrilling when the culture was still so predominately Christian. Now, as more have rejected their Christian roots, things just feel chaotic, anxious and stressful. Hollywood, like the circuses and orgies in Ancient Rome, offers us hedonism, greed, power, and fame to make us feel better. However, more are beginning to wonder if religion of Hollywood is really worth worshipping. Many are beginning to wonder if there is a way out of the chaos, anxiety and stress.
The good news is that that there is a way out. However, the Herods and Pilates of our day will not like it because it is easier to control a people when they are afraid. As in St. John's day, the true revolutionaries, the ones whose voices the empire most fears, are the Christians who with Jesus seek to make all things new.
 

God Bless,
Fr. Scott