Realities Inherent in the Kingdom of God

Realities Inherent in the Kingdom of God: Reflection on Lectionary Readings for Sunday, November 2 

In many traditions we are having the “Feast of All Souls Day.” We are pilgrims of the saints and children of Christ. We should read about them because they are models who challenge us to use our assets as part of God’s redemptive plan. We pray with them because they bring us a sense of connectedness between our world and the next. They have each given us unique insights into what it means to live a life to God. We only live it once. In other words, we only have one chance to live on this earth and then move on and be missed by those who love us. And, we have only one chance to be obedient to God, to love our neighbors, and to love God, I believe God would call this “intentional living.”

In today’s world and time, living a Christian life, often we find ourselves lost and maybe we are not understanding things and yet, He keeps telling us over and over that we are Blessed. I find myself asking the question how was it different for others back then? Did they too go through some of the similar challenges?

Jesus is training us to live not in reaction to our sin and guilt, not in response to people stronger than we are, not in desperation by any means at hand, not to survive in a sea of cynicism and malice, and certainly not to live egocentrically with the self as center and master. He is training our minds and emotions to live in response to the realities inherent in the kingdom of God: to live by faith and love. In doing this, He is preparing us for what is ahead as He did for those that are beatified.

Thus commemorating the saints is nothing other than a way of affirming that the transformative power of Christ is at work all about us in human lives. We are saints because God’s sanctity is at work in us, not because on our own we have come to great spiritual attainment. In exploring the lives of the historic saints, it is necessary to be thoroughly honest about their limitations and faults, for only in this way do we come to believe that God can also work in the people around us and even in us, whose faults we know fully well.

Listen to Rev. Dr. Lil Smith's Guided Meditation for Praying the Lectionary for Revelation 7:9-17..

Invitation

As you experience the practice of praying the lectionary, adopt a loving, caring and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

This excerpt was taken from a weekly meditation. To sign up to receive these, email us.

"So that we may live lives worthy of the Lord and please God in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."
- Rooted in Colossians 1:10 

Hayley Banteaux is a trained spiritual director and covenant partner of Retreat House. She and has been a Licensed Massage Therapist for more than 20 years and is currently employed full-time at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Dallas. She would love to hear from you.