Saturday, March 3, 2012

SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012


The Kingdom

Scripture:  The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near…Mark 1:15b

What does the kingdom of God look like?  Smell like?  Sound like?  Feel like?  And where is it? A physical place in real time or a lofty space up there in the sky?  And who is included?  
Every time we recite the Lord’s Prayer, we pray “Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done.”  But what are we really saying? 
 
Shortly after his baptism and John’s subsequent arrest, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near.’  We know that he was talking about himself – Jesus is the good news – and the kingdom has come in him.  But the crowd to whom he was speaking had no clue and more than 2,000 years later, the “church” is still trying to sort it all out.
 
What does good news sound and look like for you today?  Discovering that “perfect” mate you have been looking for?  A new job?  A promotion?  Forgiveness of a past fault?  A doctor’s report of good health?  My guess is, all of the above in one variation or the other.

But maybe there is even better news.  The kingdom of God is here for us today regardless of our situation or circumstance.  God is breaking through on us from every direction.  Can you see, smell, hear, feel it?

Prayer:  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done.  On earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  Forgive us.  Lead us.  Deliver us.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever and ever.  Amen.  

 The Reverend Dr. Cathy Gilliard

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http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/