‘The Kingdom of God’... theme park of Jesus on Owatonna

For several years I was on the Board of Directors for a national organization that met in Florida – in January.
As long as someone else was paying the plane fare I would often take a little extra time and grab a few days of vacation. Because I flew in and out of Orlando I would often visit one of the theme parks. Each one had a special quality and feel.
My favorites are the movie themed parks - Universal Studios and MGM Studios. I enjoy movies and like the behind-the-scenes feeling that the parks offer. It was fun to watch the stunt shows, to visit the back lot areas, to enjoy the movie-themed rides and take in the shows.
Leaving the park I loved to listen to children voice their excitement over their favorite ride, show or character. You could see on their faces the joy and wonder they had experienced. It was obvious that these places offer a wonderful escape from reality for young and old alike. But that is exactly what they are – an escape from reality. The worlds they create are illusion.
If Jesus had developed a theme park he might have called it “the Kingdom of God.” It would be a place where justice, peace and right are always practiced. In this kingdom we would find unconditional love, healing and forgiveness. Here God’s original will for the created world would be on display for all to see.
Like Disneyworld it would seem like fantasy. But far from being an illusion it would reveal God’s original intention and will for our world.
But that original order of creation is obscured. We look around and see so many places where brokenness, suffering, pain, and injustice seem to rule that day. That is not what God desires. Those are the signs of the fallen world we have created. Jesus tells us the Kingdom of God is here. That is his good news.
If we have eyes to see we can discover this kingdom in the world in which we live. Look around for examples of charity, love, and reconciliation. See women and men who give themselves to works of justice and peace. Find the places where God’s kingdom is uncovered. They are there, all around us.
Each of us is invited, by Jesus, to be a part of the Kingdom of God. If we give ourselves to this Kingdom we will find the same joy and wonder that children experience at a theme park.
In fact, we will come to understand that the Kingdom of God is advanced when we live the values of that Kingdom. Teresa of Avila, a 16th century mystic, reminds us of that when she writes:
“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world; Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good; Yours are the hands with which he is to bless men now.” When we choose discipleship and the Kingdom we will discover that it is not just a future dream but a present reality.

The Rev. John Sauer is pastor at Sacred Heart Church.

Share:

Digg

Guidelines: Welcome to the Owatonna People's Press community. Please keep your comments civil. Don't attack other readers personally and keep your language decent. If you would like to report abuse click here to notify us.