Who’s Kingdom Is It Anyway?

  
I have featured this fellow before on my blog. When you live in Estes Park, Colorado, you know you share the world with God’s creatures. In the past twelve weeks since we moved here, I have noticed something special. We share our community with ALL of God’s creatures. In that time we have seen Rocky Mountain Longhorn Sheep, Mountain Lions, Elk, and Rocky Mountain Mule Deer. For Denise and I it is a humbling experience.

This dear fellow I took a picture of seemed at the time to be telling us that this is our turf. I mean it is our turf together! We share the land… We share our neighborhood… We share our world together. The Elk is indeed a majestic creature. He inspires awe and wonder in me. And I am blessed to be his neighbor.

Tomorrow is Christ the King Sunday. It is the last Sunday after Pentecost. I was surprised to find out that this feast day was not one of the original celebrations of the church. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925. It was moved to the present position in the liturgical calendar in 1970. It seems that Pope Pius XI felt that the “kingship” of Jesus needed to be re-enforced. As though Jesus needed to be re-enforced as King?

In the Gospel reading from John 18:33-37, Pilate asks Jesus if he was King of the Jews. Jesus cryptically answers… You say that I am… In that response I believe Jesus teaches us something.

As I watch the Presidential politics… As I see Christians, Muslims, and Jews pervert the faith of their forebearers… As I see so-called christians (lower case is intentional) pervert the Gospel for their own political agenda… I wonder what Jesus would say. 

Jesus was a teacher of the faith and the law… Jesus was, according to some, a Pharisee (aka Teacher of the Law)… Yet he bucked the establishment! He showed the religious elite who had made their bed with the political establishment that they had it all wrong! 

His Kingdom was NOT of this world! He was not political. His purpose was to bring the people back to the faith! And what was that faith? In the words of Micah the Prophet: Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God. In the words of the law? Love God with all that you are–heart, mind, body, soul. Love your neighbor as yourself!

I see too little of that in the so-called christian community today. They are more about building walls and barriers than they are about breaking down barriers and sharing the love of God. Jesus pointed to the anti-heroes… Samaritans, Outsiders, Lepers, Audulteres, Tax Collectors, SINNERS! Yes folks, he pointed to you and to me! Jesus broke down barriers. He was the anti-establishment King! In that kingship, Jesus brought the love and grace of God to those whom the “religious elite” would have never given a second thought.

As my brother the Elk welcomes me to Estes Park, so too does Jesus my brother welcome me to the kingdom. It isn’t about power and prestige… It is about humble service. After all, whose kingdom is it anyway? It is the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. And our Lord teaches us to serve humbly… May God help us and equip to serve each and every day. And may God always remind us that it isn’t about ourselves, but rather about humble service to God.

Who’s Kingdom is it? It is God’s kingdom! How are we to serve? With humility and love for ALL of God’s children! Lord, help us to work towards your Kingdom. A kingdom bases on love and humble service.