Dwell

A Reflection on the Second Reading for May 19th, 2019:
​Fifth Sunday of Easter

Revelation 21.1-5

Then I, John, 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 humans. 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.”

---

He will dwell with them...

God will dwell with us. Am I aware of that? Do I act in a way reflective of that fact? As a follower of Christ I believe that God does indeed dwell with us. In recent days the world lost someone who I believe was completely and utterly aware of this certainty. On May 7, Jean Vanier, the founder of the L’Arche communities, died. If anyone was an example of a living saint, it was this man. He loved with no boundaries and truly believed that everyone was worthy of such love. From a small community he started in Trosly-Breuil, France, grew a movement that offers people with developmental disabilities a sense of belonging, and of being loved. Worldwide, there are 150 communities in 80 countries. Vanier’s life of love bore witness to God’s love. His great care and compassion impacted many — those who live and work in L’Arche communities, their families, and so many more people beyond the boundaries of the communities. This was evidenced by the numerous tributes, articles, and reflections that poured in within hours and days of the news of his death. Jean Vanier knew God dwelt with him, and the people he cared for. He let God make things new through him.

"Jean Vanier knew God dwelt with him, and the people he cared for. He let God make things new through him."

Tweet

God has made me, and each one of us, with the exact same capacity for joy and goodness. It is knitted in every fibre of our being. We are so filled with it that it’s just waiting to erupt out of us, if we would let it; if we would let God work in and through us. I often tamp down that goodness for reasons of my own making or choosing. Despite the excuses or obstacles I throw at Him, God continues to work on making my heart new. Why? Because as Saint John writes: His home is with humans. God wants to be with us. Wants to! He wants to be with us in this messy, nutty world that we’ve made. And He literally was, is, and always will be (Jesus, Holy Spirit, Everlasting God).  
​
I have been part of a lot of meetings over the past couple of months (Side note: death by meeting — it’s a thing!) The one thing they all have in common is that they are meetings with other humans. We talk about God things and how to do God’s work. Inevitably, not always intentionally, we get distracted by human things simply because we are human. God has a lot of patience with us. He must! While I cannot change the people in my meetings, I can certainly change the way I am in these meetings. I can choose to remember that God wants to dwell with us, is in fact dwelling with us, and in my brothers and sisters. I can do my part to better welcome God into the conversations, conflicts, challenges, and celebrations so that indeed we will see all that He is making new. ​​

​Aurea Sadi

---