See, I Make All Things New! (Rev. 21:5) by Sr. Margie McGurie

Recently I had occasion to study and to teach the Book of Revelation. I was impressed by the frequent use of the word “endurance.” The author insists that because of resurrection all of history is being redeemed, all events and occurrences now belong to the domain of the Lord of Time, to Jesus the Christ. Yet we have all had personal experience of apparent contradictions of the good news, times when goodness and justice seem to be subverted by another power, an evil force. In the face of such trying moments, what does it mean to endure?

Far from inferring passivity, endurance is a strong word. It is a call to stand firm, to withstand pain and fatigue, distress and even persecution with a view toward a greater vision. It expresses the determination and the ability to continue, to remain at the task, to last—indeed, to outlast whatever is in opposition to the God-given vocation at hand.

Several years ago, our Community made a serious commitment in response to our vocation. As religious women rooted in the spirit of Carmel, we recognize our need for a genuine life of prayer. Our very existence is totally dependent upon fidelity to the Word who has called us into being. We also recognize that this Word is continually sending us forth into increasingly more demanding and varied ministries within and among the people of God. Maintaining a delicate balance between contemplative prayer and active ministry produces a lifelong creative tension that invites us, impels us, to remain open to the Spirit of God who makes all things new. St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, wrote: “I beg you . . .do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.” (Rm 12:2

The Book of Revelation was originally addressed to small struggling Church communities of the first Century not so different from our own today. Those Christians were asking themselves questions in their Hellenistic Roman world which are similar to ours: How much compromise with culture is too much? What adaptations to the times are weakening our Gospel witness? What internal as well as external factions must we contend with directly, armed with the gifts of the Spirit? What new creation is being shaped and formed out of the confusion and chaos of this present moment in our communal history, the Church’s history and the history of the world?

It has been said that the signs of the times indicate that we are all in a societal dark night, a time when faith is being tested to the limit. If this be the case, it is more important than ever for faith communities everywhere to seek the transformation of mind and heart which Paul spoke of, to come together to judge what is good and perfect and in accordance with God’s will. The Book of Revelation is filled with images of conflict and opposition. Yet the overriding impression, the final vision is one of hope fulfilled, love victorious. The great revelation of this inspired scripture, the mystery unveiled is the truth that endurance is the key virtue for times such as ours. It is a sacred activity that can make real witnesses (martyros) of us all. It is in this spirit of renewal that we ask you--beg you--to pray for us, remembering as you do so that because we are one body in Christ this also becomes an ardent prayer for yourself. May we share the endurance we have in Christ Jesus until all things are made new.