Thy Kingdom Come

BY THE RT. REV. GREGORY O. BREWER

The coming season of Advent fills our hearts with images of light piercing the darkness – a perfect picture of the kingdom of God.

But what is the kingdom? Whenever Jesus used that term, he described it as an extension of himself. His own life is the manifestation of the kingdom, whether through proclamation, healing miracles, service to the poor or death and resurrection. If it has to do with the kingdom of God, we can clearly trace it to the word and work of Jesus: Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:23).

Kingdom Longing

At Advent, we remember God’s work in and through Christ Jesus: his birth, his life and his imminent return, of which we are the grateful recipients. And yet scripture says what we experience now is incomplete. Even the Hebrews 11 “hall of faith” heroes experienced God’s real presence in their lives but knew there was far more to come. The Holy Spirit produces within us a deep longing for what we have yet to realize (see Rom. 8:26).

Many of us experience this longing for “kingdom come” most deeply at Advent. We know Christ’s presence now, but when we compare it to everything the Bible promises, we realize the gap between the two must one day be filled. A new heaven and earth are coming.

The pandemic has given us new room to recognize what we may have missed before: the longing we have for God. Our longing for kingdom fulfillment can motivate us to find creative ways to serve others, to bless others, to nurture others. And that’s what I see happening in our churches, as you will read throughout this issue.

Yes, COVID-19 is still with us. But more important than that, Emmanuel is still with us. And God’s presence and power in our lives change everything.

Kingdom Witness

This truth and this longing also give us permission to speak with others in an authentic way. Advent says, “There’s more to the story than ‘Joy to the world, the Lord is come.’ It’s also, ‘We’re in sorrow, because he’s not completely here yet.’”

That speaks to us in the midst of this very unusual season. No matter what lies ahead, we understand that God has not finished with the world. The coming year will likely have all of the same kinds of difficulties we’ve just faced, and perhaps more.

So “kingdom come” includes a call to patience. We must take care to enhance our own faith in ways that will help us endure this time of restricted activity. We must draw near to the one who holds us close, even in a time of isolation.

And so God’s kingdom requires creative thinking and praying: “Lord, in the midst of this, what would you have me do?” When we ask that, when we listen and obey what God says, we experience the reality of kingdom come – not only at Advent but in all the days ahead.

Grace to You,

Bishop Gregory O. Brewer