Thy Kingdom Come

Reading at The Mount of the Beatitudes Church

What a day today! We traveled the entire shore line of the Sea of Galilee. We rode a boat on the Sea of Galilee, visited the Mount of the Beatitudes where I read Matthew 5:1-12 to the group, saw the cave on that same Mount where Jesus would get away by himself and pray, saw the spot where Jesus fed the 5000, and the place where the risen Jesus appeared for the third time.  We went to Capernaum and saw the remains of a great synagogue, saw Peter’s mother in law’s house. This is the same house where she was healed by Jesus. Finally, our baptisms were reaffirmed in the Jordan River.

We are all dog tired both from what we have seen and what we have felt. It is all so overwhelming, Even at that, it has been a peaceful day in the presence of the Holy Spirit. But, it has also been a day to see the violent reality of the world in which we live. We traveled to the border with Jordan to see where the Decapolis was located. We saw the pillboxes and the mine fields and the barb wire. How must it be to live in a country where you are surrounded by those that want to destroy you?

Sea of Galilee

On the other hand, I did see the opposite of the barb wire, the mine fields, and the fear that goes with them. Through God’s grace I caught a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. I saw the nations gathered, I heard the different languages, and I saw the clerical dress of all the different traditions of Christianity. All of us together in the same time, in the same place, and for the same reason: Jesus Christ. It is possible for humanity to live together in peace, but it is only through Jesus Christ. I am now more convinced of that then ever.  I read this on the Mount of Beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”(Matt 5:9) Lord God I saw your children today making peace.  I want to be your child, a peacemaker. I want to see an end to the barb wire and the mine fields and the fear. I want to see thy Kingdom come!