Father Richard challenges the ways we allow personal possessions and national boundaries to define us:
Jesus primarily talked about the kingdom of God as his defining worldview. Yet, the vast majority of Christians in history have identified with their own much smaller kingdoms for which they were willing to fight, kill, surrender, and grant pledges of total allegiance. “Caesar is Lord” has been the rallying cry of most Christians more than the intentionally subversive creed: “Jesus is Lord!” (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 12:3). Christian history up to now has been overwhelmingly and adamantly provincial, ethnic, and cultural, much more than “catholic” or universal. We have defined ourselves largely by exclusion more than inclusion. Ironically, World Wars I and II were fought among various “Christian” peoples of Europe and the United States. Any reluctance to admit our embarrassing Christian history reveals our immense capacity for avoidance and denial of our own shadow.
National boundaries are simply arbitrary lines and mean little in the eyes of God: “The nations of the earth are like a drop on the rim of a pail, they count as a grain of dust on the scales…. All the nations mean nothing in God’s eyes. They count as nothing and emptiness” (Isaiah 40:15, 17). The New Testament puts it in a more positive way, “Our true citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and “we are mere pilgrims and nomads on this earth” (Hebrews 11:13). My father Francis of Assisi loved to quote this passage from Hebrews to his friars, and how I wish we could hear it spoken with passion in our time.
We, on the other hand, identify with our land, homes, and possessions as if ownership and real estate are, in fact, real! In time, we will all hear Jesus’ message: “You fool!… This hoard that you have collected, who does it belong to now?” (Luke 12:20). I see little difference in the attitudes of those who consider themselves Christian and those who are secular and agnostic. Most Christian citizenship appears to be clearly right here—on this little bit of very unreal estate. Let’s get real about where our estate is and what is our real estate. Are our security, identity, and treasure in our small kingdoms or in the great kingdom of God? As Jesus said, we cannot finally serve both of these demanding masters (Matthew 6:24). [1]
No institution or nation can encompass the kingdom of God. When people say piously, “Thy kingdom come” out of one side of their mouth, they need also to say, “My kingdom go!” out of the other side. The kingdom of God supersedes and far surpasses all kingdoms of self, personal reward, society, or nation. The big picture of God’s kingdom is apparent when God’s work and will is central, and we are happy to take our place in the corner of the frame. This is “doing the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21) and allows the larger theater of life and love to unfold. [2]
References:
[1] Adapted from Richard Rohr, “We Have Not Yet Begun to Love: Religion and Immigration,” Radical Grace 24, no. 4 (2011): 3.
[2] Adapted from Richard Rohr, Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent (Franciscan Media, 2012), 14.
Image credit and inspiration: Lucas Dalamarta, Untitled (detail), 2024, photo, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. When engaging with an unknown being we practice holding space for the other and leading with an open heart, even when we don’t know the outcome.
Story from Our Community:
Many years ago, I was diving deep into my faith when I had a spiritual insight on an airplane. I had been reflecting on God’s eternal love for all of humanity. As we waited for everyone to deplane, I saw each person as totally and unconditionally loved by God. Of course, they were all strangers to me, but not to God. Often, when I’m in public—or getting off another plane—I recall that experience and feel a sense of deep peace.
—Christy M.
