Kingdom Horizons

Kingdom Horizons

Last week we saw the broadening horizon granted to us by God’s presence.  With the Beatitudes, Matthew chapter 5 includes 5 uses of the term ‘kingdom of heaven.” In all of the gospel you can read it being said 33 times.  The Greek is βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν or basileia tōn ouranōn.  

Think less government or its subjects and more a reign or reach.  The kingdom of heaven isn’t so much an address or location but a transcendent or emergent force or affinity from and with God that is embracive such that it reorients everything it touches.  

From Morning Prayer one of the “prayers for mission” says: 

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, p. 101)

In that prayer we recognize that Christ’s “reach,” — born in sacrifice — is a “saving embrace” that reorients us from recipient to participant, from unknown to known, from lost to beloved to lover.  So when we are looking ahead we do so with more than ourselves in mind.  

Even our intended transitions from selling the rectory to securing an interim priest to calling Advent’s next Rector needs to be understood as about more than a “new beginning” or “fresh start” or “change of pace.”  Our work, now caught up in the kingdom of heaven is more movement than result, more becoming than arriving, more emergent than established.  

Everything we do in faithfulness extends our horizon and our work will not accept complacency or settledness.  Jesus understands this and in Matthew’s chapter 11 says:  

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

There are big days ahead for us and even bigger ones, . . . further on. FrDann