What a wonderful, far-reaching, all transforming Gospel we have believed! Jesus is making all things new, and that includes even the groaning and travailing creation ‘round about. Our reading for today from Joy to Your World! is from pages 13 and 14:

“The joy that comes with the Gospel is cosmic in scope and transformative in power. God so loved the world that He sent Jesus for its redemption (Jn. 3.16). The whole world suffers under the burden of humankind’s sin, groaning and travailing in waste, rot, and death, even as it strains to renew itself and glorify God (Rom. 8.19-22; Ps. 19.1-4). No wonder the fields, floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the joy of God’s redeeming grace, unleashed for all creation’s renewing (cf. Ps. 96.11-13).

“The joy which infects those who receive the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ causes them to see creation and all culture in an entirely new light. Whereas formerly such things were merely taken for granted and used as we saw fit, now they are received as gifts and servants of the joy-giving God, to be redeemed, renewed, and redeployed with joy to the praise of His glorious grace.

“The joy of the Christian is Good News for the earth and its creatures and culture.”

For reflection or discussion
1. Do you ever think about the impact of salvation on creation? Of your salvation on the creation all around you?

2. How does the creation witness to us of the restorative hope we have in Jesus Christ? Should we give thanks more often for the creation?

Let’s not take anything or anyone for granted. We have Good News for the world. Joy to the world! The Lord is come! We who know this Good News must live it in every aspect of our lives, so that we can help others understand why this is the most important message they could ever hear. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss it. Order your copy of Joy to Your World! from The Ailbe Bookstore today. For The Fellowship of Ailbe,

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