By Fr. Jim Dugal, C.PP.S.
What’s new? Most of us have been asked that question upon meeting someone. How have you answered? I find myself saying, “not much,” or “nothing.” You parents have probably heard this when you asked your teen, “What happened in school today?” But today in the Scripture readings God tells us “all is new.”
Paul and Barnabas in the first reading say that “God has opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” That is good news. Then John in the second reading says that “there are new heavens. The old has passed away.” In his vision he sees a New Jerusalem (the Church) coming down from heaven and there will be no more death. That is NEW. God will always be with his people. Then in the Gospel Jesus says “I give you a new commandment—love one another.” And that will be how all know we are his disciples. There sure are a lot of new things for us to think about.
At Easter more than 1,000 people in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati entered the Church. That will mean a new way of life for them. Many are also graduating from high school and college. Will that mean a new life for them? College, job, military, religious life? I saw the movie Unplanned last week. This woman who had worked and been in charge of an abortion clinic for eight years suddenly became aware that real lives were being erased there. She quit and became a prolife advocate. It certainly was a new life for her.
Paul and Barnabas encouraged new believers to persevere in the faith. And they were honest: there would be hardships, but God himself would always be with them. When they returned to Antioch and told of all the new things that had happened, they acknowledged that it was God who accomplished all this.
So take some time to think about what is new in your life. Each day is a new day. Who knows what will happen or what God will do. What’s new? God makes all things new.
Fr. Jim Dugal, C.PP.S., is a preacher and retreat leader who lives at St. Charles Center in Carthagena, Ohio.