Who Will Save Us?
BODY/BREATH
Find a comfortable position. Place your hands on your belly. Gently close your eyes and breathe in and out of your nose. Now take seven deep breaths expanding your belly as you inhale. On your exhale, draw out all of the air from your belly and repeat. Relax and let go.
READ
“Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” – Luke 17: 20-21
“Somewhere out there beyond the firmament, past the asteroid belt, there were other worlds where children did not regularly fear for their bodies.” – Ta-Nehisi Coates
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” – Arundhati Roy
QUESTION
When you imagine the road between the world as it is today and the world remade into the Kin’dom of God, what is one step in that direction? What is one small thing you can do right now that moves you towards it? Are we ready to imagine another world and fight for it?
REFLECTION
Like Jesus, I am not concerned about whether or not I am (or you are) going to heaven. Heaven is already here, and yet still coming. Jesus said the Kin’dom of God is at hand, it is among us. The Holy Spirit, which filled Jesus to the point that it continues to fill his disciples, is with us. Jesus shared with us a vision of a world in which human beings truly love and care for each other. Although the Kin’dom is not yet completely fulfilled, it is already possible, because the Spirit of God is already present with and in us.
This is the good news we Christians can share: we can transform this world. Through the transformation of ourselves into loving and justice-seeking beings, we can reshape the world. We must save ourselves! The healing, repair and transformation of the world is our responsibility as people of faith. God grants us grace and love that passes all understanding. Allow that agape love to shape our hearts to be like Jesus’ heart, so that we can heal and re-order the world with love, peace and justice.
PRAYER
O Holy Spirit, transform us into instruments of love, peace and justice.
