“Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).
Jesus says, “the kingdom of God is within you.” Within who? Within us? Even me? Of course we can’t see God directly, or hold God’s hand. But we can see each other. We can see kids playing pretend, imagining mosquitoes as misunderstood fairies. We can hold a friend’s hand in grief. We can watch families break bread, nourishing one another. If we wait patiently in some quiet spot outside, we can watch life emerge from unexpected places: an iridescent beetle might crawl out of the ground, or a gull might drop a white feather from above. Being present, we can see more, hear more, and feel more. We are more aware of the divinity drenched in everything. To the holiness that surrounds us. As we move through the world, we remember that God is with us, always. That God is ahead of us, always. And that God is not somewhere far away, or high above, but rather- right here. In front of us, around us, and even within us. To follow Christ is to first become aware of Christ. To sit for a moment and breathe in this oxygen gifted from our creator. To sip fresh water, and remember its source. To let awe and wonder take over. To let go. As the psalmists say,“be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
God’s creation, of which we too, are a part of, brings God’s intangible grace into our physical reality. The white egrets down by the shore may as well be angels: living examples of how the Holy shows up in plain sight. Somehow both breath-taking and breath-giving. Their very presence is moving and an invitation into stillness.
As we go through our lives this week, I wonder where we will see the divine show up. How we can be carriers of the gospel, admirers of creation, and participants in the holy. God is within us. With me, within you, within every living being. As if diving into the deepest oceanic trench, we find ourselves immersed in the deepest love imaginable. Swimming in such profound waters, it’s easy to forget that we are immersed at all. So today we pray for stillness. For a moment to remember where we came from and who created us. To acknowledge the light in others, and the light in ourselves. To walk as creatures aware of boundless compassion. To thank the earth and to thank each other for being here.
Dear God, We are so grateful that your creation reflects You. That we are invited to participate in your movements on earth. You gifted us not only with life, but also with the understanding that life is given, sustained, and resurrected through your Grace. Knowing that we are Loved, let us love one another. Help us to see the kingdom of God that lies within. Help us to open our minds and hearts to the kingdom of God that lies within the people in our lives. Allow us to be still, and to know that you are God, and that you are not only surrounding us, but also within us. We are forever grateful. Amen.