23rd Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 65:17-25

preaching commentary

Scripture’s proclivity for a new creation

Some people have an aversion to describing a future day when the troubles of this world will have passed into oblivion, the kitchen-table expression being “pie-in-the-sky-bye-and-bye.” Although many of these people have no qualms against speaking of a day when human beings, by their own ingenuity, will have conquered life’s illnesses, such as cancer, and created a better life for all humankind.

While I would agree that we ought not resort to those conversations just to avoid providing an explanation for the woes of this earthly life, I think there is an innate desire in most of us for a better day when the tears have been replaced with joy, whether…