Living into the Kingdom of Heaven - April 10

Today’s Readings: Psalm 145; Isa. 25:1-9; Acts 4:13-31; John 16:16-33 

“The gospel is less about how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven after you die, and more about how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven before you die.” – Dallas Willard

A Facebook group called Mindful Christianity posted a quote attributed to the late Dallas Willard: “The gospel is less about how to get into the Kingdom of Heaven after you die, and more about how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven before you die.” Willard was a philosophy professor at University of Southern California from 1965 until his death in 2013, and he wrote much on Christian spiritual formation, including The Divine Conspiracy. As I scrolled through reactions to this mindful meme, there were varied comments, from “Truth!” to “So what percentage of human souls will make it into heaven? Rough guess.” to “We don’t live in the kingdom of heaven on earth. That is unbiblical and an oxymoron.”

I was struck by how Dallas Willard’s deep thought resonated alongside the readings of Acts 4 and John 16 today. In the early days of Christianity with Peter and John, the healing of the lame man turned heads and people began speaking about God’s power. The Temple leadership was threatened and told the apostles to stop talking about the miracles of God’s love they had witnessed. Peter and John responded, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20) Jesus’ followers were living in the now – proclaiming the Good News. They did as Jesus taught them: pray, profess, heal, love. Returning to their friends after the encounter, they said, “And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30) And, being filled with the Holy Spirit, this group of early Christians spoke the word of God with boldness.

In John’s gospel, Jesus tells his friends, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” The disciples begin talking among themselves about what Jesus means by this elusive statement. Jesus unpacks it a bit for them: “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn to joy…So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:20, 22) Their teacher knows there will be hard times ahead, and he calls his friends to the assurance and grounding in God’s love. No one can take away the joy of Jesus imbued in their hearts. He advises them to pray to God in the name of Jesus. He says these things so that in Jesus, they can have peace. In Jesus, they can live into a space of love and healing and wholeness. In Jesus, the disciples can take courage, for he has conquered the world – and the disciples are charged with telling others about their believe, spreading the Good News.

Friends, God has delivered us from the dominion of sin and death, and has brought about the reign of Jesus. Let’s share this message of hope far and wide – not in the fear of death, but in the joy of renewed life in Jesus. Happy Easter!

-- Katherine+

Questions for Reflection

What are your thoughts about Heaven? How is your Christian life influenced by the promise of Heaven?

The apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak stories of God with boldness. When you share stories of your faith, do you feel bold? Peaceful?

Daily Challenge

Sit in a comfortable place today and pray today’s collect. Reflect on how Jesus is recalling you to new life in this Easter season. Name the losses you mourn; pray to Jesus for inspiration to see the joy of renewal today, in the hope of the eternal joys to come.

Saturday in Easter Week (BCP 224)

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.