New Commandment with Struggle

The theme of “New” is presented in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. John tells of Jesus “New Commandment”. The Acts of the Apostles introduce the new door of faith opened for the Gentiles. The Book of Revelation describes the New Heaven and the New Earth. The “News” today contains a story a car bomb being defused in Times Square. The reality of the struggle to realize the New Heaven and the New Earth is echoed by Luke ‘It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.’ (Acts of the Apostles 14.22). The struggle of the “Followers of the Way” is described in vivid images in Revelation. The struggle against evil and the fear of tragedy is difficult. The struggle to apply the New Commandment (John 13.34:) is only possible through living the ‘love” witnessed in Jesus, activated in the in dwelling Spirit through Jesus so that “one another” includes the car bombers who seek our destruction.