Scripture and song refer to the child Jesus as “the new-born King.” We Americans wrestle with the idea of “royalty” and anything that sets one person above an- other. (We call our national leader “Mr. President” . . . NOT “your Majesty”.)
Our passion to level everybody out, no person better than another, “one person, one vote etc.” is admirable. It’s the hallmark of Democracy. But democracy also misses something. It misses the actual structure of how creation runs. You see the universe comes to exist because God creates it. God is not elected. He’s the supreme authority, “the ruler of heaven and earth”.
Unlike senators, governors, CEO’s, presidents, who are all elected by the people, some authority comes automatically because of who you are. Such a person carries within themselves the power to rule. The best human title for such a position of authority is “King”.
So Jesus is the newborn King. Where does he get this authority? From God his Father. “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” God says to the people gathered at the Jordan.
Once the newborn has grown (in a few church weeks!), Jesus will speak his first sermon, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” So the question is, where? Where do we see it? When it first dawned on the earth it appeared in Bethlehem. Jesus is the beginning of the Kingdom of God. In his mind and heart we have the thoughts and desires of God for humankind. We hear this echoed later in the gospel when Philip the apostle asked Jesus to “show us the Father” in heaven.
“Philip,” Jesus said, “I’ve been with you this long and you do not know the Father? Do you not know that when you see me you see the Father?” Jn. 14:9.
So, the Kingdom of God has already started in the one person of Jesus.
But Jesus, as we know, has ascended into heaven. We can’t see him like Philip could. So, is the Kingdom still here? If so, where?
Jesus told us how to find it. “The Kingdom of God does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say here it is! Or there it is!, because the Kingdom of God is WITHIN YOU.” Lk 17:20. It is born in us in baptism; a seed (like the Mustard Seed) which grows of its own ac- cord to enormous size. It brings the beginning of eternal life to those who receive it.
Watch for Jesus’ parables in this context. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like . . . “He has to give us pictures because it’s hard to put the nature of the Kingdom into words. Why? because it is a spiritual reality, one that must be perceived by Faith. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Jn. 20:24.
So, where do I find God’s Kingdom today? Any act that brings God’s goodness to the world has its roots in the Kingdom. “When did we see you hungry and feed You? As often as you did it to the least of my brethren you did it for me” . . . welcome to my Kingdom. So much to say about this Kingdom!
Be kind. Remember, you’re in the Kingdom.
Fr. Tim
