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From time to time, I find
myself in a conversation. The exchange is going well when, sensing the direction
of the dialogue and seeking to offer a word of wisdom, I end up saying something
the other person finds totally incongruous! It seems I was hearing something
else. I was tuned in to a different reality. That's what Jesus was doing. He was
tuned into a different reality; different than just about everyone he
encountered. Of course, Jesus was tuned in to the true nature of who God is
while I'm usually just chasing my own thoughts or
fears. Jesus had a clear vision of
how life really worked. The Bible called this reality the Kingdom of God, but it is not really a
kingdom or a place at all. It is a reality marked by values that are very
different from those of the cultures in which we live. He emphasized compassion
over efficiency, justice over expediency, peace over domination, and love over
all. As we enter into the message Jesus left us with his life and his teaching,
we have an opportunity to see the deeper and alternative reality that Jesus was
seeing. And he challenges us to embrace that reality and construct our lives
based on it. The implications are significant! Jesus challenged those in
power in his day in terms of their legitimacy and their values. Faith calls us
to challenge the values often assumed by the powerful and privileged of our own
time. Theologian Walter Wink writes: "Jesus does not condemn ambition or
aspiration; he merely changes the values to which they are attached. The Gospel
of Jesus champions economic equality. The earth, he insists, is so constituted
that it will provide all our needs if, and only if, we share equitably: 'Seek
first the reign of God and God's justice, and all these things (necessities of
life) will be given to you as well.'" (Engaging the Powers,
111-114).
Jesus went out of his way to
include the outcasts and lift up those who were down and out. He challenged
policies that perpetuated oppression of the poor. All of this reflects what the
Gospels call The Kingdom of God.
According to Jesus, and in the prophetic tradition of These truths, if we accept
this vision of The Kingdom of
God, have implications for how we live our lives. One implication is
that we use the fruit of our achievements to benefit not only ourselves and
those we love, but the general good of our society. Another is that we recognize
the shared nature of our spiritual journey; that part of our relationship with
God is our relationship with others. A third is that the challenge of God's
Kingdom is to see the world in that radical way Jesus did and adjust our lives
accordingly. The bible promises that we can do it because God's presence will
always surround and fill us - always faithful. Thanks for continuing to bless me as
we journey together. |
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