The Foreshadowing of the New Era
From the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
Modern World of the
Second Vatican Council (Gaudium et Spes N. 39)
We do not know the time when earth and humanity will reach their
completion, nor do we know the way in which the universe will be
transformed. The world as we see it, disfigured by sin, is passing away.
But we are assured that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new
earth. In this new earth righteousness is to make its home, and
happiness will satisfy, and more than satisfy, all the yearnings for
peace that arise in human hearts. On that day, when death is conquered,
the sons of God will be raised up in Christ; what was sown as something
weak and perishable will be clothed in incorruption. Love and the fruits
of love will remain, and the whole of creation, made by God for man, will
be set free from the frustration that enslaves it.
We are warned indeed that a man gains nothing if he wins the
whole world at the cost of himself. Yet our hope in a new earth should
not weaken, but rather stimulate our concern for developing this earth,
for on it there is growing up the body of a new human family, a body even
now able to provide some foreshadowing of the new age. Hence, though
earthly progress is to be carefully distinguished from the growth of
Christ's kingdom, yet in so far as it can help toward the better ordering
of human society it is of great importance to the kingdom of God.
The blessings of human dignity, brotherly communion and freedom -
all the good fruits on earth of man's cooperation with nature in the
Spirit of the Lord and according to his command - will be found again in
the world to come, but purified of all stain, resplendent and
transfigured, when Christ hands over to the Father an eternal and
universal kingdom: "a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness
and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace." On this earth the
kingdom is already present in sign; when the Lord comes it will reach its
completion.
Liturgy of the Hours, Vol III, Office of Readings, Twenty-First
Sunday in Ordinary Time