THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR

PRAYER MOMENT

Friday 29 November 2013

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR

Pause.  Be still an enter into your own silence within.

Reading. “When you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (Luke 21: 29-33)

Reflection. Jesus speaks of catastrophic events and a budding fig tree. They are signs of the breaking in of the kingdom. At this time of year more than ever there is an urgency to accept and believe that the reign of God is among us. It is “near” in the sense that we have not yet fully embraced it. But it has “already here” in the sense that Jesus has announced it and, in his own coming, has inaugurated it. God has, as it were, now entered into his inheritance. What remains is for us to welcome it. And, looking around the world, we can say; yes, we have welcomed the Lord in many ways but there is still some way to go. Our daily struggle is to make our own what we already have. It is something like the independence of a country, like Zimbabwe, for example. Yes, we are independent. That is a fact. But we have not yet “owned” that independence.

Prayer. Lord, you have inaugurated the reign of God but we have not fully welcomed this great event. Help us to develop the capacity to fully embrace your rule, your will, which gives freedom and peace. Amen.