FRIDAY OF THE OCTAVE OF PENTECOST: Homily

This sermon was preached at the Society of Saint Polycarp annual retreat; St. Cecilia's Chapel, Toddhall Retreat and Conference Center, Columbia, IL

“THE NEW HEAVEN IN CHRIST”

Isaiah 65. 17-25

Friday of The Octave of Pentecost: 13 June Anno + Domini 2014

Fr. Jay Watson SSP

In The Name + of Jesus

   Everything you touch is blighted by sin—hubris and ego rotting and decaying an already diseased creation. It’s Adam fault. It’s your fault.

   The airs pollution is not carbon dioxide and smog but the stench of your sin. The higher heaven of outer space is not littered with rocket and satellite debris but with your malice and covetousness—and the smugness of your prideful good deeds; filthy menstrual rags indeed!  But as smog does not do away with the sun, your trespasses cannot blot out the true Sun of Righteousness.

   Is Saint Esaias writing for the doomed Kingdom of Judah, Hezekiah and the remnant, all those who then and later (as Saint Nathanel) would seek the consolation of Israel? Yes. Is the Holy Prophet writing to and for you? Oh yes.

   The Lord Who Fatherly spoke the Word of the Second Person creating all from nothing is the Creator who spoke the Life of That Uncreated Word into your souls at the restorative waters. The Third Person Who hovered over the deep, Who hovered over the font, hovers over the Pentecost Church—THEN & NOW: This day!

   The Christ creates “new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered…”

   His original Kingdom of Eden was perfect—and will be again at the Parousia. His Kingdom of Power is awesome, but “awesomeness” is not the point. His Kingdom of Glory—the eternal heavenly mansions are guaranteed in the Crucified and Resurrected tent/tabernacle/temple of the Nazarene which He Himself rebuilt on the Third Day—The Eighth Day—The 50^th Day—and This Day!

   Jesus’ New Heaven is now in His Catholic Church of the New Testament. His Heaven is in the new earth—filled with new Adams in, with, and under The Second Adam. 

   You steward The Mysteries of this inchoate and becoming heaven as you minister its King to the royal priests. 

   There would be weeping in Babylon (al naharoth Babel) not long after The Prophets words were uttered. There is weeping now amongst you and your people as your journey through the desert of Sin constantly tempted and attacked by the Jezebels, the Ahabs, the mammon, the flesh, the world, and the devil. There is weeping in the long dark night of the Cross.

   He lives. He is risen! Christus Rex.

   You rejoice in the New Jerusalem from above which is heaven on earth where the Spirit of Pentecost calls, gathers, and enlightens you and your people around what Christ has built. He has labored and you rest in Him. He wept and you joy in His tender absolution and His comforting arms. He crushed the wolf and laid down in the tomb that you might sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob every Sunday eating not straw, not even deliciously roasted bullock—but living on The Lamb Himself.

   In this, In His Holy Mountain of The Cross, The Pulpit, the Font and the Rail, you have Peace.

In The Name of The Father and of The + Son and of The Holy Ghost