Thy Kingdom Come
Our Father - Part 2
Sunday, March 13, 2022
Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 4:17, 6:10
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.Matthew 6:10
Listen to this week’s sermon here:
___________________________________
On earth as it is in heaven…
Of all the things that sound too good to be true, surely this ranks among the top. It seems so far fetched that most Christians have all but given up on the idea. In practice we have traded in this line of the prayer Jesus taught us for another prayer, a simple and almost magical formula for Jesus to forgive our sins so that after we die we might get into some distant heavenly city somewhere over the rainbow or beyond the Crystal Sea.
Such thinking might seem innocent enough, but historically the influence of such teaching has led to an utter disregard for the physical realities of an earth and of bodies which we assume are passing away. Violence and destruction against creation and humanity is much easier when we assume that one day we will “fly away” into glory and nothing on earth will matter anyway.
The theme of God’s Kingdom coming on earth is not only central to the prayer Jesus taught us, but also to the whole of Jesus’ teachings and the New Testament. One could argue that Jesus must have missed something, as we continue to wait over 2,000 years later for a Kingdom that feels more distant now than ever. We are not alone in our impatience and anxiety. The apostles certainly believed Christ would return to earth in their lifetimes, as have countless faithful Saints in every generation since, and still it seems that God waits. As Peter reminds us, the Lord is not slow in keeping his promises, but remains patient toward us, giving everyone time to change their hearts and lives (2 Peter 3:9).
So what do we as anxious and impatient people do in the waiting?
In truth, many have turned on one another. We want someone to blame for the delay. There is no shortage of people or groups to fault for the ever increasing pain and suffering in our world.
Others bury their head in the sand. We hide in our comfortable church buildings and comfortable homes and try to make the most of life until we breathe our last and God brings us home, but not everyone has this luxury. It’s hard to be concerned about bringing heaven to earth when all we really want to do is leave this earth behind.
But Jesus’ prayer calls us to a third way. When the Kingdom didn’t come immediately, the disciples rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They didn’t just pray for God’s Kingdom to come, they began to make it happen. They shared everything in common. They cared for the poor, the widow and the orphan. They healed the sick. They worked for justice and an end to violence and oppression. Jesus didn’t just call us to pray for the Kingdom, he called us to live it… here and now… on earth, as it is in heaven.
____________________
An Invitation to a Lenten Breath Prayer Practice -
As we sit with the “Our Father” Prayer Jesus taught us, I invite you to take one line each week and use it as a breath prayer throughout your day. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by difficulty or by gratitude, by pain or by joy, take a moment to breath a line of this sacred prayer. You may want to set a silent alarm on your watch or phone to remind you to pause and pray at least 3 times each day. Regardless of when you do it, be sure to let the prayer truly fill the depths of your soul. Repeat it, sit with it, meditate on it, until it becomes part of you. Allow the Spirit to transform your heart and mind as you pray.
Week 2: Breath Prayer Exercise
Breathe in: “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done”
Breathe out: “On Earth as it Is In Heaven”
Or you might try slowing down even more, using two breaths…
Breathe in: “Thy Kingdom Come…”
Breathe out: “Thy Will Be Done”
Breathe in: “On Earth…”
Breathe out: “… as it Is In Heaven”
Amen.