05/26 – Revelation 21:1-7 – I Am Making All Things New

First Reading: Acts 20:17-35

Paul sent messengers from Miletus {MIL-et-us} to the city of Ephesus {EFF-e-sus} and called the pastors of the church to meet with him in Miletus. When they were with him, he said to them, “You know how I spent all my time with you, from the first day I arrived in the province of Asia. I humbly served the Lord, often with tears in my eyes. I served the Lord during the difficult times I endured when the Jews plotted against me. I didn’t avoid telling you anything that would help you, and I didn’t avoid teaching you publicly and from house to house. I warned Jews and Greeks to change the way they think and act and to believe in our Lord Jesus.

I am determined to go to Jerusalem now. I don’t know what will happen to me there, but the Holy Spirit warns me in every city that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. I place no value on my own life. I want to finish the race I am running. I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus; the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness.

Now I know that none of you whom I told about God’s kingdom will see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the spiritual death of any of you. I didn’t avoid telling you the whole plan of God. Pay attention to yourselves, and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers to be shepherds for God’s Church, which he acquired with his own blood.

I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave and they will not spare the flock. Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them. So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.

I am now entrusting you to God and to his message that tells how kind he is. That message can help you grow, and can give you the inheritance that is shared by all of God’s holy people.

I never wanted anyone’s silver, gold, or clothes. You know that I worked to support myself and those who were with me. I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them.’”

Second Reading: Revelation 21:1-7

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone. Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with people! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won’t be any more death. There won’t be any grief, crying or pain, because the first things have disappeared.”

The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this, ‘These words are faithful and true.’” He said to me, “It has happened! I am the A and the Z, the beginning and the end. I will give a drink, from the fountain filled with the water of life, to anyone who is thirsty. It won’t cost anything. Everyone who wins the victory will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my children.

Gospel Reading: John 10:22-30

The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter. Jesus was walking on Solomon’s porch in the Temple courtyard.

The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I have told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf, but you don’t believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep respond to my voice and I know who they are. They follow me and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father. The Father and I are one.”