the capacity to look beyond this life - 4th week lent monday

The new heavens and the new earth in our first reading today has been used by both Jewish and Christian writers to describe the kingdom of God which is to come.  The description reveals several things.  First, there is in us a desire to live forever, to be eternal – a hundred years Isaiah said is still young.  But deep inside we know that this life, my life today is not the kind of life I want to live forever with.  There has to be something better, and this is the new heavens and the new earth.

Second, as in the first creation, God alone can create these new heavens and new earth.  It is called a transformation; it is also referred to as a restoration.  Whatever it is, it is a different world and something which only God can give and create.

In this season of Lent it is important to acquire this way of looking, to acquire this capacity to look beyond this life, to look beyond our present limitations, to look beyond the narrow confines of mere human possibilities.  It is important.  Why?  Because without this looking beyond lent can be very depressing.