One of the highlights of John’s apocalyptic vision was his vision of the holy city, New Jerusalem. John was carried away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain where he was shown the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. John observed that there was no temple in the city, “for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” Likewise, he noted that the city had no need “of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.”

By the light of the city the nations will themselves walk, and the earth’s kings will bring their glory into it. The gates of the New Jerusalem will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. The kings of the earth will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. However, John noted that “nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” The destiny of the redeemed is to partake of the water of the river of life in the midst of God’s city, where they will dwell forever in the presence of the Lord and his people.

God has built a city where only those who have received his Son will inhabit. Nothing impure and no one who does what is detestable and false will enter into the city. Those who dwell there will all be clothed in the righteousness of Christ, received by faith in his finished work.

Dear Father, I am so thankful for your generous and remarkable gift of the hope of the eternal city, a place of righteousness and joy where nothing detestable or false can dwell. Your love overwhelms my heart; thank you for your love of righteousness and truth; you are my God of justice and mercy. In Christ’s name I pray, amen.

Weekly Reflection on the Priesthood of all Believers
Whether our Christian tradition makes a distinction between laity and clergy is not particularly significant in this discussion. What is relevant is even if we belong to a Christian tradition that makes a distinction between laity and clergy those of us who are “laity” still have a priestly identity even if it is not a formal office within our church tradition. The “laity” are the bi-vocational segment of the Church in that we hold both the office/nature of a priest, as well as the occupational, where we live out our calling and earn our living.

~ Scott Breslin, Embracing Our Priestly Nature at Work:
A Theology and Practice for Ordinary Saints, Electronic Edition.
Eugene OR: Resource Publications, 2017. Loc. 7428.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
You Will Be My Witnesses, Acts 1.1-11

Book Reading
Breslin, Embracing Our Priestly Nature at Work

Special Church Year Service
The Ascension of the Lord: Thursday, May 26, 2022