“And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever; just as you saw that a stone was cut from the mountain not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has informed the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation trustworthy.” Daniel 2:44-45

Catholic theologian Alfred Fermin Loisy lamented:  “Jesus promised us the Kingdom of God, and all we got was the Church.” I sometimes agree with this excommunicated Priest.   But, if we understand the Kingdom of G-d as having been present on the Earth, inaugurated through the death and resurrection of Jesus, even a kingdom that has partially come and been evident in both hidden and revealed ways, then Loisy’s lament becomes less potent yet remains relevant.  Christian history contains much that brings no glory to G-d–the Crusades, bigotry, discrimination, slavery, misogyny, legalism, anti-intellectualism, a suspicion of science, etc.  Much of that litany of shame exists in the category of current events. Just look around the world and you can see how much evil exists on this planet. Nevertheless, much of Christian history (as well as the Christian present day) is also positive, also redeeming, and also worthy of praise – programs feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the incarcerated and the hospitalized, welcoming the stranger, to name a few–in short, recognizing the image of G-d in others then acting accordingly–bring glory to G-d. In those and other deeds the partially unveiled Kingdom of G-d becomes visible and G-d’s glory fills the Earth.

 Pastor Dave

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.” Matthew 2:1-12

“And now brothers, I will ask you a terrible question, and God knows I ask it also of myself. Is the truth beyond all truths, beyond the stars, just this: that to live without him is the real death, that to die with him the only life?” (Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat)

It all begins with the arrival of the wise men in Matthew 2:1-12 – the saga of the fight between good and evil. These Magi come to Herod the King asking their way to the “Newborn King”. Now, look, you do not ask a sitting king “Where’s the new king?” It just isn’t done. The arrival of the Wise Men and their question sets the city in turmoil. Is Herod’s throne in question? So, Matthew’s point cannot be missed: 

There are two kings, and two kingdoms: “one of violence” and “one of Peace”. And Herod’s violence has a sword drawn against Peace (against Jesus). But, at every turn, Herod’s attempt to destroy Jesus is thwarted by the will of G-d. And even with Herod’s death, the chase of violence after peace will not end. Because, after this Herod comes Herod Archelaus, and after him will come another Herod — all the way down to Herod Antipas. The pattern of Jesus, Jesus the king of Peace, retreating from the threat of Herod, the king of violence, begins at his birth — at the beginning with Joseph’s decision to flee to Egypt. Joseph and his new family will flee — from Judea to Egypt — from Egypt to Judea — and from Judea to Nazareth. But once he begins his adult ministry, Jesus’ days of fleeing are over. He might retreat when overwhelmed by grief, or when he needs to get away and pray to His Father. But his kingdom, the one begun through his cross and resurrection, is a battle worth fighting for, not retreating from.

My friends, you and I live in two kingdoms: 
 A kingdom of violence — all around us, every day. 

A kingdom of Peace — through Jesus Christ and his teachings.  

Every day we are on the front lines of a battle field — the battle between good and evil — between violence and Peace. It is a battle we cannot ignore, we cannot shrink from, and we cannot pass along to others.

Pastor Dave