All Things New
You wake us to delight in your praises; for you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it reposes in you.
(Augustine)
Psalm 148:1-4 NRSV
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Revelation 21:1-6 NRSV
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, the 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:
“See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”
And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also, he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Just as he testified at the beginning of the book that he was the Alpha and the Omega, so now this is repeated for the third time, so that no one might believe that there is any other god before him or any other god after him, as Isaiah says. Indeed, since he is speaking of the end of the world, the one who consummates the world should be understood to be the same one as he who was its creator.
(Venerable Bede, Ancient Christian Devotional)
O God our King,
By the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019)
Christus Victor
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
