Dear Saints,

What we see in Jesus' resurrection is the birth of new creation. "The power that has tyrannized the old creation," offers my friend, NT Wright, "has been broken, defeated, overthrown. God's kingdom is now launched, and launched in power and glory, on earth as in heaven."

Power and glory, indeed!

The old creation, marred by the corrupting power of sin and death, lives by pride and retribution. But now, Jesus has opened up a new world, and made possible a new way to live (a way that was always intended by our creator God in whose image and likeness we are made): a way of love and reconciliation, a way of mercy, healing, and hope.

Love has defeated death, and is now on the march to renew the face of the earth.

We find our place in God’s plan (in his new-creation/renew-the-face-of-the-earth project) by trusting and following Jesus. Especially in these challenging times, we make Jesus' way of life our own when we - through him, and with him, and in him - live the way of self-giving love all the way through and all the way to the end!

Jesus is risen, my friends. He is the Lord of our lives. Let us trustingly follow him to fullness of life - fullness of love - today!

In the Peace of the Risen Christ,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ