For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness,
has shone in our hearts to bring to light
the knowledge of the glory of God
on the face of Jesus Christ.
The same God who is the ordering principle behind all of creation desires to bring that same light and order into our inner lives. Jesus is the word through whom God made the universe (cf. Heb 1:2). This is the word that created the light in the beginning. It is the same word we need as an antidote to the darkness and chaos within our hearts.
The careful ordering of the universe, both within and without, is distorted by sin. The LORD does not leave us in this state. In fact, by his Spirit he makes us a new creation (cf. 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15). Even though people throughout history are able to more or less put on a good front and get our external actions in order we are all but unable to change our hearts on our own. But this is exactly the change that matters the most to Jesus. This is the change that truly makes us a new creation.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
We don't recreate ourselves any more the the universe created itself in the beginning. But the LORD who created the universe is near to us with the salvation we need.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
His glory dwells in our land. Glorious light shines forth from the face of Christ. This light can change the darkness within and make us new. He dwells most perfectly in our land by his presence in the Eucharist as well as in his word and in his people gathered in prayer. We need to draw as close to him as we can to be filled with this light. Transformed by the light of Christ we will be able to give the first place in our hearts to God and the second to our brothers and sisters. This is how all things are made new! This is what the new creation means!
For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,
and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
A good litmus test for this reading is how off-putting we find the phrase "your slaves for the sake of Jesus." As he changes our hearts this comes to be a source of joy for us although it may now even seem repugnant. The freedom to give ourselves away is the freedom which the LORD wants for us. This is the freedom which only comes from the Holy Spirit.
Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom.
The LORD meets us where we surrender to him and happily pours out this freedom upon us.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
Darrell Evans - Freedom
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