To listen to this homily, click here.
Friends, today’s readings are all about new things:
A New Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth, and a new commandment.
In the reading from the Book of Revelation, God declares: “See, I am making all things new.”
This is not just about some distant future. God’s saving and healing work in the world is ongoing—right now, right here, in you and in me. The reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows how the early Christian communities supported this work of renewal through their agápe love—imitating the sacrificial love of Paul and Barnabas. And the Gospel gives us the heart of Christian renewal: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
So if God is making all things new—how does that happen? What does that renewal look like in real life? While the particulars might look a little different for each person here in church, two truths remain constant for all of us.
The first is that something new requires enduring hardship.
Most of us have experienced some sort of major remodeling project like a new kitchen or bathroom. It always starts with big dreams and a starry-eyed vision of open spaces, new countertops, a more functional layout, and premium fixtures. But almost immediately, reality sets in. For weeks, the kitchen or bathroom is torn apart. No sink. No stove. Dust everywhere. Meals on folding chairs in the living room. Many people sharing the same bathroom and waiting for the shower. It is inconvenient, uncomfortable, and always more expensive than expected. There are often delays, mistakes, and days of wondering: “Is this really worth it?”
But in the end, when the work was finished and everything comes together—the new kitchen or bathroom is more beautiful and functional than we imagined. In fact, after awhile, we usually forget all the headaches and misery because in the end, it was worth it.
That’s what God’s renewal is like.
We love the idea of “something new”—a fresh start, a deeper faith, a better version of ourselves. But we often forget that true renewal costs something. Just like that home remodel, it requires sacrifice, patience, and a willingness to live in the mess for a while.
In today’s first reading, Paul and Barnabas encourage the disciples with these words:
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Not optional—necessary.
Why? Because resurrection doesn’t bypass the cross.
Healing doesn’t come without surrender.
Growth doesn’t happen without discomfort.
If you feel like your life is under construction right now—if you’re tired, uncertain, or stretched—it might just be that God is building something new in you.
Now, let me tell you another story that reminds us about the 2nd truth: there are no shortcuts to the Resurrection.
I used to open the Waze app when I drove, especially around rush hour. It’s designed to help you avoid traffic and find the most efficient route. One day, I followed its directions faithfully, only to find myself on a narrow side street, along with a dozen other cars who were all following the same “shortcut.” The street wasn’t made for that many cars and so, instead of saving time, we all ended up stuck, frustrated and delayed.
That’s what spiritual shortcuts are like.
We want the joy of Easter, but not the sacrifice of Lent.
We want peace, but not the hard conversations.
We want to grow, but not to wait or endure.
And so we look for ways around the hard stuff.
But there are no side streets to salvation.
Jesus doesn’t say, “Follow me and I’ll get you there faster.” He says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Because the only road that leads to resurrection is the road He walked—through sacrifice, love, and obedience.
We live in a culture that loves shortcuts. We want faster results, instant fixes, and guaranteed outcomes. But in the spiritual life, shortcuts often lead us away from the goal.
There is no shortcut to patience, or forgiveness, or maturity. There is no shortcut to loving someone when it’s hard. There is no shortcut to living as a disciple of Jesus. And whether we like it or not, the words of Paul and Barnabas are still true:“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us the “new commandment”: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Not love as we feel like, but love as He has shown—patient, enduring, merciful.
That kind of love doesn’t come from shortcuts. It comes from walking the long road with Jesus and with each other.
So if you feel like your life is a construction zone, or if you’re tempted to find a quicker way around the challenges you face, remember this:God is still working. God is still building. God is still saying: “Behold, I am making all things new.” And when God works, it will not be easy. Or instant. But always new.
May we have the courage to endure the mess, and the wisdom to avoid the shortcuts.
Because what God is creating in us is worth it. And what he builds will last and be so wonderful that we will soon forget the hardship and sacrifice. Let’s give God permission to get to work in our lives, our families, and our parish!
