We Can, With God's Help

This week, we heard a great deal of teaching from Jesus.  

What is the Kingdom of Heaven like?  Who are we and what are we to do as people of God?  What is our role in the world around us?  How are we to spread the word?  

These are all questions that were dealt with in our readings this week.  Jesus says to them - you are the salt of the earth and you are the light of the world.  YOU, not someone else, but YOU are God's people and you can't hide that, so go show others what this Kingdom means.

Matthew uses the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven" throughout his gospel.  One reason for this is that he is writing to the Jewish people and therefore he is avoiding using God's name.  So when he says Kingdom of Heaven, his followers and his readers would have understood that this was not about something in the afterlife or something that we have to work toward, but it is about bringing God's Kingdom here on earth.

So how do we do that?  Matthew tells us that we do that by showing our light, by praying and giving to God, by forgiving others and allowing others to forgive us.  We do that by not storing up treasures for ourselves here on earth, but by focusing on our treasures in heaven - or our treasures that we already have with God.  We are to strive first for God (6:33) and all will be given to us.

This seems like a really tall order, and quite frankly pretty overwhelming to me.  I am human.  I am fallible.  I need help.  YES!  We do need help and that help comes not only from God (think of our Baptismal Covenant, "I will, with God's help") but it also comes from those around us.  By people coming together to work for the Kingdom here on earth - not doing it all at once, but doing it one step at a time, one encounter at a time.

We also heard about miracles this week and miracles can seem like a very far off, ancient thing that doesn't happen to us, but I beg to differ. Yes, miracles can me huge things like regaining sight or being able to walk or being healed from illness, but miracles can also be the small things in our lives that change us, that change our course for the better and help redirect us toward our calling and our walk with God.  

Just this week, when I was struggling, when I was feeling down, I received an email from a friend which lifted my spirits and made me see the light of God in an otherwise dismal time.  The next day, I got a phone call from a friend, who listened and encouraged me and understood me.  Both of these were healing for my soul.  

We never know how our actions, how our words, how our lives will touch others lives.  By living in the light of Christ, by not hiding our light, we are able to effect one another in ways that we may not even understand and comprehend.  Miracles are all around us. 

As we say in youth ministry, it's all about relationships.  God did not come and say to the twelve disciples - go and do this alone.  No, he said go together and spread the word.  Do not let others drag you down if they are not willing to listen to the word.  Go into the world and proclaim, teach, heal, show the Kingdom of Heaven/God here so others will see God's work.  

Can we do this?  Can we, as fallible human beings spread the good news?

We can, with God's help.

The Rev. Shannon Kelly

Bishop's Assistant for Christian Formation

The Diocese of Milwaukee