THE NEW JERUSALEM The end of this book reveals the New Jerusalem that was established by the Lord Christ, having destroyed the killing letter bound to formalities, corruptive to our inner life and our relationship with God. 1. Corruption of formal worship 1-4. 2. Discernment between formal and serious worshippers 5-9. 3. The New Jerusalem 10-24. 1. CORRUPTION OF FORMAL WORSHIP For a long time, the Jews leaned upon the presence of the temple in Jerusalem, as a source of security for them, whatever their relationship with God is. That is why the Lord rebukes them saying, “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool; where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?” (Is. 66: 1) If God, through His love, allowed man to build a house for Him, it was to proclaim His dwelling in our midst. God does not care for stones and huge buildings, but dwells: “On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at (His) word.” (Is. 66: 2) The wise king Solomon realized this fact. That is why he prayed on the day of dedication of the temple, saying, “Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You, how much less this temple which I have built?” (1 Kings 8: 27) Indeed God accepted that temple, called “The Temple of Jerusalem” as His house, not out of need for it, but in order that, when you look at it you present your souls to Him1. St. Justine What is that house on which David pours his soul, when he remembers it? (Psalm 42: 2) He yearns to it for love, even to death. Is it that house built of leather, linen thread, blue, purple, and scarlet yarns? David’s view was without doubt totally different! Cast away all earthly thoughts, and walk along the way opened to you by the prophets and apostles. And above all, walk according to the word of God with all your heart and mind, to ascend to heaven and behold the splendor of the eternal dwelling, of which Moses presented only a shadow2. Origen The Church of God is heaven!3 “The soul of the righteous is the seat of wisdom.” The righteouses are the seats4. You have become heaven do you fear earth? Thus, as you acquire the perfection of knowledge, and have love, you become heaven and a throne for God. The heaven that we behold by our eyes is not very precious before God. Our sanctified souls are the 1 Dial with Trypho, 32. 2 In Exod. Hom 9. 3 Serm. On N.T. Lessions 7:6. 4 On Ps., 122. 7 heaven of God. The thoughts of angels and all ministers are the heaven of God1. St. Augustine The Church is the cleft of the rock, into which the prophet Moses entered, in order to behold the glory of God. This rock is Christ, in whom we abide by the spirit of humility and contrition, in order to enjoy the divine dwelling; that is why it is written: “On this one will I look: On whom who is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Is. 66: 2) Do you like to become a place for God? Be of a poor and a contrite spirit, and tremble at God’s word2. Let our hearts tremble as God looks at us. He will then dwell in us3. St Augustine Let us tremble at His words, and then He will always build us4. St. John Chrysostom It is fitting for us to walk along the narrow straight way, that of praise and glory, where all Christians should practice peace, humility, and tranquility of good life, according to the word of God, who does not look, except to him who is of a poor, and a contrite spirit, and who trembles at his word (Is. 66: 2)5. St. Cyprian Through humility, contrition of heart, and trembling at His words, God will look at us, dwell in us, and turn us into His Holy heavens. But whoever preoccupies himself with formalities of worship, with the spirit of pride and hypocrisy, in him God will never find rest, and in his worship He will not delight. To God, his sacrifices will have the smell of murder, defilement, and of idol worship. He says, “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood; he who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol.” (Is. 66: 3) An (Animal) sacrifice does not sanctify man, as God is in no need of a sacrifice; it is the pure conscience of him who offers it that sanctifies the sacrifice. That will move God to accept it6. St. Irenaeus The fruit of preoccupation with spiritless formalities, is entering into troubles with no comfort. And in place of being told by God: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name.” (Is. 43: 1) He would say to them: “Just as they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations, so I will choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them, because when I called no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight” (Is. 66: 3, 4) 1 On Ps., 99. 2 On Ps. 132. 3 On Ps. 104. 4 In John hom 7:1. 5 Ep. 6:3. 6 Adv. Haer. 4:18:3. 8 As they choose the evil way and find pleasure in uncleanness, hated by God, God would forsake them to their delusions, to fall under troubles He brings on them, as fruits of their doings. As they reject His invitation, and do not hear His voice, He does not listen to their prayers, and does not respond to their quests. They will drink from the same cup that they themselves filled. 2. DISCERNMENT BETWEEN FORMAL AND SERIOUS WORSHIPPERS While formal worshippers suffer troubles with no comfort; those who are serious in their lives and tremble at the word of God, may face execution, yet enjoy real joy. “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name’s sake said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy, but they shall be ashamed.’” (Is. 66: 5) This is what happened when the Jews hated the Lord’s disciples and apostles, at the pretence of zeal for God’s glory and the Mosaic Law, yet the disciples rejoiced, while the Jews got ashamed. The Lord Christ referred to that saying, “They will put you out of the Synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.” (John 16: 2) The fruit of affliction that came upon men of the Church of the New Testament, on the hands of their brethren, was the destruction of the temple on the hands of Titus, as it was written: “The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the Lord, who fully repays His enemies.” (Is. 66: 6) The opposition ended up in the destruction of the temple, but the temple of the Church of the New Testament, was established in every heart that bears fruit, which is the transfiguration of the Lord of glory - Jesus Christ, in the inner life of every believer. The prophet tells us here about the initiation of that Church in an exalted way, saying, “Before she travailed, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such thing? Who has seen such thing?” (Is. 66: 7, 8) This delivery is nothing but the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ in the believers’ life Fathers of the Church look at the spiritual life of a Christian after his baptism, as a condition of growth of Christ Himself within his heart, as though a mother to Him1. As a child develops inside the womb it seems as though the word of God develops in the heart of a soul that received baptism, to comprehend inside it the word of faith, more glorified, and clearer2. It seems wrong to speak of the incarnation of the Son of God from the Virgin St. Mary, and not to refer to His likewise incarnation in the Church… It is fitting for every one of us to realize that the Son of God came in flesh through the pure Virgin; and at the same time, He came in Spirit in each one of us3. Origen What happened to the blameless St. Mary, when the perfection of deity that is in Christ shone in her, is being realized in every soul that practices virginity as a personal program. Indeed the Lord will no more come in flesh: “While we are at home in the 1 Hugo Rahner: our Lady and the Church, p. 72. 2 In Exod. Hom. 10:4. 3 De Sargiusga 8:2. 9 body, we are absent from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5: 6); yet He dwells in us spiritually, and brings with Him His Father, as He told us in the Holy Bible. By that, every Christian can be as though a (mother) to Him, who is in essence everything; according to what is said by the Lord Himself: “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My...mother.” (Matthew 12: 50)1 St. Gregory of Nyssa Every Christian (conceives) God in his heart2. St Augustine He summons the soul that starts to head toward the Lord Christ, as such: ‘O, Mary.’ That is, it receives the name of the woman who conceived Him in her womb; namely, that soul will deliver Him according to a spiritual concept3. Be sure to do the will of the Father, so as to be a (mother) to Christ (Matthew 12: 50)4. St. Ambrose The catholic (universal) Church has been strongly born, as though in one day; as it is said: “Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?” (Is. 66: 8) It was born on the day of the Pentecost, and grew at a fantastic rate. 3. THE NEW JERUSALEM The prophet ends his talk, revealing the New Jerusalem: a. She floods joy on her beloved, those who mourn for her, because of the afflictions she goes through (Is. 66: 10). From the outside, there are sufferings and troubles, while the inside is a flood of joy, even on others. b. She floods satisfaction on all; to children she grants comforts, as though consolation of her bosom, while to grownups, she gives the juice of her glory. c. A flood of peace as a river, and of great glory as a flowing stream: “For thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed. On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees” (Is. 66: 12) God Himself floods peace over His Church, as a farmer irrigates His field. He irrigates her from the fountains of His peace and glory, as though from an inexhaustible river. In His promise to the righteous He says that He is going to flood on them a river of peace... through which we shall all flourish and be satisfied; even on earthly bodies, He will flood the peace of eternity and incorruption.... It is as though God pours (Himself), to make humans equal to angels5. St. Augustine d. A source of divine comfort: “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will 1 De Virginitate, 2:13; PG. 46:324, 380.. 2 Sermon 181:4. 3 De Virginitate, 4:20 ; PL. 16:271. 4 Comm. On Luke 10:25 ; Pl. 15:1810. 5 City of God 20:21. 10 comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”(Is. 66: 13) God grants His Church motherhood, not only towards the believers of her children, but to all humans; to carry a big heart like her Groom, to flood love on all. As a mother, she gives comfort to her children, especially those suffering and cross-bearers. That comfort is not her own, but it is the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in her. That is the way the Lord says He will comfort us. The people of the Old Testament found their comfort in Jerusalem on two aspects. That they returned from captivity, and that the Lord dwells in their midst. For those of the New Testament, on the other hand, the Holy Spirit grants us His comforts through conquest over the enemy, the destroyer of our freedom, and through making us a dwelling place for the Holy Trinity. “When you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like grass. The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants, and His indignation to His enemies.” (Is. 66: 14) We see the cross, as in it life appeared and the hand of the Lord shall be known, namely. The Person of the Lord Christ will be revealed, being the hand of the Father... as through Him the love of God the Father has been practically realized through the sacrifice of the cross. In the Church, as we enjoy that, our hearts will rejoice, and our bones will flourish with faith. That is our comfort in the Lord through His Church. He grants us the joy and love of the heavenly heart, and lets our faith grow (bones being the center of the body). e. A source of purity: “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens after an idol in the midst, eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the Lord.” (Is. 66: 17) “As the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.” (Is. 66: 20) f. The glory of God will be proclaimed among the Gentiles (Is. 66: 18-20). g. A priestly city: “I will also take some of them for priests and Levites” (Is. 66: 21). h. An everlasting city: “So shall your descendants and your name remain” (Is. 66: 22). i. A people who will always worship Him: “‘And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.” (Is. 66: 23) l. No one will perish among them, except for those outside the true Jerusalem: “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” (Is. 66: 24)
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