Daniel, in a dream, enters an apocalyptic kingdom where strong winds stir up the sea. In biblical times, the sea represented the world of chaos. Out of the troubled sea, four different beasts emerge and Daniel is terrified by the monstrous vision. However, he does not wallow in fear but seeks a heavenly attendant for understanding. He is told these beasts represent empires on earth and show the beastly nature of these kingdoms. They rise and fall, come and go as the tide, but God’s kingdom is eternal.
Whose kingdom are we living in?
In the beginning God’s kingdom on earth was the garden of Eden. A beast came into the garden in the form of a serpent who tempted Eve by offering her access to the power and knowledge that belonged to God. Eve was tempted and disobeyed God. Then all relationships changed and the cycle of blame began. Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent so it continues ...how familiar is the culture of blame in today’s kingdom where we celebrate the culture of self rather than community? What are our beasts? The food and fuel crisis is one.
We are exploring making Warm Spaces available to the Community of Sheringham this winter when many folk will not be able to adequately heat their homes or feed their families. Much of Jesus’ ministry was based around hospitality. Food, warmth, welcome, comfort and community embodies the body of Christ. Jesus described himself as a mother hen nurturing us chicks under warm, safe wings. All are welcome into this warmth as we are all children of God. Jesus calls us to live in a kingdom where God’s generosity benefits us all as children of God.
Beatitudes: a reversal of values
Jesus came down from the mountain to the level plain. He had not long chosen his 12 apostles and his message was addressed primarily to them. What sort kingdom had he come to bring to the world? An upside down one of generosity and non retaliation.
In the kingdom of God woes become wows! Opportunities to both give and receive blessings. Jesus’ woe statements reveal that the things we assume are advantages are not. What if money, food, comfort, security and respectability are things that kill our souls, not in an afterlife but right here and now? What a tragedy it would be to mistake them for blessings given by God! What if we use woes as opportunities to demonstrate the mercy of God so extravagantly given? Woe to those who are missing opportunities to experience the giving and receiving of blessings.
The point of Jesus coming to earth was to bring us into relationship with God and one another. Jesus is talking about the political, social and economic systems and structures embedded in our society as they were in Biblical times, that work against fairness and equality. Those who are satisfied by and benefit from unfair systems are to be pitied as they are not living in the kingdom of God but swimming against the tide. They are not experiencing the deep peace that only comes when living in God’s kingdom.
Mother Teresa set off for India as a young missionary with a vision ‘If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.’ She did this for twenty years before she founded the Missionaries of Charity who devote themselves to serving the ‘poorest of the poor,’ running hospices, orphanages and leper houses, first in India, and now around the world.
In the chapel of every community hangs a single cross with the words “I thirst.” These final words of Jesus on the cross are a reminder that Jesus thirsts for our love. We can show our love for Jesus in how we care for each other. Mother Teresa said, ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ We can all reach out to the poor in our community to help God’s kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.