Reign of Heaven



The theme this week is the Reign or Kingdom of Heaven. How would you describe the reign of heaven? What images or stories would you tell?
This morning we are offered a number of images. Genesis and Matthew describe this reign as unexpected, subverting the established social and political systems, and our expectations of what should be. God is creating new community, new social and political systems that are built on God’s justice and peace. The kingdom of heaven, the community of God is appearing in unexpected places, among those you would least expect it to appear among, offering new ways of being and living.
Paul in his letter to the churches in Rome reminds us that the Spirit of God is yearning for us and within us, yearning for true community for all creation, yearning for all that is held in the covenant to be fulfilled. God’s faithfulness is to the covenant -  the promise to restore humanity and renew creation through God’s people is at the heart of Paul’s theology. When we are faithful to this (righteous) we find life. We are to work with God in giving birth to God’s community, trusting and hoping that even when not a lot seems to be happening that God is at work, the yearning of the Spirit of God will bring all things to good.
How would you describe the reign of heaven from your experience of it? What images or stories would you tell?

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