Throughout the Gospel of Mark Jesus speaks to his disciples, to the religious scribes, and to the crowds about the kingdom of God. Even though Mark presents Jesus as being secretive about his identity, he also has him speaking openly about his radical mission to see the world changed. This was a mission that manifested itself not only in Jesus’ death and resurrection but also in the way that he lived his life.
The kingdom of God was a kingdom that considered a man ranting in the desert a prophet, a kingdom that called on people to sit and eat with those called sinners, a kingdom that regarded every day as a day for the work of healing, a kingdom that drew near to those exiled because of sickness or demonic possession, a kingdom that declared a preference for poverty, and a kingdom in which the blind could see, and the sighted were blind. In my view, the kingdom of God was and is about acknowledging the full humanity of every person, especially the powerless, and fostering a deep passion for God.
This meditative song from the Taizé community describes the Kingdom of God as “justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” As you listen (and sing along), reflect on what the kingdom of God is to you and what it might mean for the gates of the kingdom to open in your life.