“Mother, I make all things new”. That is my favorite line spoken by Jesus in the movie “Passion of the Christ”. Mel Gibson has Jesus saying this to Mary after he was beaten and bloodied almost beyond recognition, and struggling under the weight of the cross he would soon die upon. He looked more like a terrible ending than a new beginning. But he wasn’t speaking of himself. He was talking about me and you.

People have asked “Chaplain is it in the Bible like that?” No, there is no record of Jesus saying those words to his mother. But with that line Mel Gibson compressed and displayed the core truth of the Bible message. YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN.

More than 2000 New Years have past since God through Christ opened the door for new beginning, and some people are still seizing the opportunity. This past Sunday, the first of the year, I received inspiration for this “Chaplains’ Corner”. A couple sang a song about a guy who had really messed up his life. It looked like the past would determine his future. Then:

“He just picked up the pieces

He didn’t throw away the clay

A vessel of honor I am today

Because Jesus didn’t throw away the clay.”

With leaky eyes I looked at our guest sitting next to Tish. When we took her into our home over three years ago she looked about as hopeless as Jesus must have on Calvary road that day. A lifetime of sexual abuse, heavy cocaine habit, three children and widowed all within a short twenty-three year life. By all human standards she was broken clay and a throw away. Thank God he also has a standard. His name is Jesus and he “makes all things new”.