“The days are coming, ”declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
Jeremiah 23:5
Reflection
We all long for political leaders that will govern with wisdom, peace, strive for justice and lead with freedom at the forefront of their political policies. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn’t. Some of us witness freedom while others suffer the pain of injustice and oppression. Some live in peace, while others face the agony of death on a daily basis.
Many of our hopes and dreams rest on the decisions that our leaders implement. And those decisions are more than often not for our highest good. The people of ancient Israel hoped for many of the same things that we do. They had hope in the promise that God would one day send a savior into the world that would “reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” They longed for a leader that would grant freedom for their people that would last for all eternity. With the birth of Jesus, their hope finally came to fruition. But he was something different, and not quite what they expected. They expected a political, military and religious leader that would physically reign, physically save their nation and literally build a great Kingdom of God’s chosen people.
The people of Israel lived in fear for quite a while. Violence was a daily reality that they had been conditioned to live with. They prayed and expected a leader that would lead with a sword and defeat their enemies with military might. Sound familiar? But God had a different plan. Jesus came to reign within the spiritual realms, spiritually save and inaugurate a spiritual Kingdom that would overshadow all that we know on earth.
We all long for political leaders that will govern with wisdom, peace, strive for justice and lead with freedom at the forefront of their political policies. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn’t. Some of us witness freedom while others suffer the pain of injustice and oppression. Some live in peace, while others face the agony of death on a daily basis.
Many of our hopes and dreams rest on the decisions that our leaders implement. And those decisions are more than often not for our highest good. The people of ancient Israel hoped for many of the same things that we do. They had hope in the promise that God would one day send a savior into the world that would “reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” They longed for a leader that would grant freedom for their people that would last for all eternity. With the birth of Jesus, their hope finally came to fruition. But he was something different, and not quite what they expected. They expected a political, military and religious leader that would physically reign, physically save their nation and literally build a great Kingdom of God’s chosen people.
The people of Israel lived in fear for quite a while. Violence was a daily reality that they had been conditioned to live with. They prayed and expected a leader that would lead with a sword and defeat their enemies with military might. Sound familiar? But God had a different plan. Jesus came to reign within the spiritual realms, spiritually save and inaugurate a spiritual Kingdom that would overshadow all that we know on earth.
The Kingdom of God is very different than the earthly kingdoms that govern planet earth. Within the kingdom of God, there is no reason for fear. In God's kingdom there is no reason to arm ourselves with weapons of defense. There is no need to kill. Through the Christ nature within us all, and living as citizens of his kingdom, we are set apart to live differently. We follow a spiritual king that transcends the governments of earth and satisfies all hopes and dreams more than any earthly leader could ever accomplish. Through the kingdom of God, we begin to comprehend what God longs for all of us to have, and through our Christ nature, we see it inaugurated. We see the divine dwelling within us all.
Prayer
God, as we join together in celebration of Advent, we give you praise and thanks because you are our king; our divine guidance that leads us to our highest good. We thank you because all of our dreams, hopes and desires are in you, and in you alone. Despite the violence, death and instability that we have witnessed in our world this year, enable us to remember that through your divine presence, and through your kingdom, all is calm and all is bright.
Amen
God, as we join together in celebration of Advent, we give you praise and thanks because you are our king; our divine guidance that leads us to our highest good. We thank you because all of our dreams, hopes and desires are in you, and in you alone. Despite the violence, death and instability that we have witnessed in our world this year, enable us to remember that through your divine presence, and through your kingdom, all is calm and all is bright.
Amen
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