“See, I am creating new heavens and a new earth; The former things shall not be remembered nor come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17.)
Saint Jerome offers the following insight on this verses from today’s First Reading:
“The new heavens and new earth are cause for rejoicing and for confessing the true God, because eternal amnesia follows on the former tribulations; this means that those who live therein will never be mindful of idols and previous errors but will pass from darkness into light for the enjoyment of eternal beatitude. For they will forget the former evils, not by having their memories destroyed but by receiving an inheritance of goods, in accordance with what is written: “On the day of good rewards, there will be no memory of evils,”1 and again: “an affliction of one hour destroys the memory of pleasures.” Thus, to the extent that the former desires were born in tribulation, members of the new creation will never enjoy them in the wayward manner of the Epicureans.” (Commentary on Isaiah, 18.)
Collect
O God,
Who renew the world
through mysteries beyond all telling,
grant, we pray,
that Your Church
may be guided by Your eternal design
and not be deprived of Your help
in this present age.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Who renew the world
through mysteries beyond all telling,
grant, we pray,
that Your Church
may be guided by Your eternal design
and not be deprived of Your help
in this present age.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Glory to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen
