Thy Kingdom Come? Thy Kin-dom Come? Which is it? I’ve come across the question again and again in my reading, so I decided to explore the different ways of thinking. My journey began with an article by Charles Wiley, in the September/October 2021 issue of Horizons Magazine, “Thy Kin-dom Come?” Jesus’ core message of “kingdom” calls us to reflect as well on the message of “kin-dom.“
Jesus used "kingdom" language all the time. Many of his parables talk about what the kingdom of God looks like: a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds that will grow into a huge tree; a treasure hidden in a field; a pearl of great price. It is a kingdom that the Beatitudes proclaim belongs to the poor in spirit as well as to those persecuted because of their struggle for justice. The kingdom of God belongs to the poor, for oh, how hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.
People in Jesus' day were used to kingdom language and all that it implied: a patriarchal, hierarchical, oppressive, exclusive, exploitive, often violent, controlling system.
Even though kingdom language was common for Jesus, many feel that “kin-dom” is truly a better word for his vision for the world. Kin-dom may not be familiar to us, but has been used for decades by people who have wanted to get away from the imperialistic, patriarchal language of kingdom.
Unlike a kingdom, a kin-dom is inclusive, non-hierarchical, relational, compassionate, justice-oriented, and anti-imperial. The kin-dom recognizes the importance of each person's life and seeks to make decisions based on the common good. The presence of the kin-dom of God begins within each person to change hearts and minds until it hopefully becomes manifest in the world around.
The concept of kin-dom was brought to the theological table by Cuban immigrant, theologian and activist, Dr. Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz. ”Kingdom” suggests a vertical hierarchy and power-over, while “kin-dom” suggests a horizontal solidarity and power-with.
“‘Kin-dom’ is the union of ‘kindred persons’ who have a common interest and whose relationships are imbued with mutuality. Solidarity is the virtue of those who accept their interconnectedness and then respond to the oppression, pain, and injustice experienced by others as if they were members of the same caring family.”
As we pray for the kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven, let us pray, as well, for the kin-dom of God to become real and tangible as we live and work together.
Elizabeth
The end of the year is always a time for looking back, and yesterday was the last Sunday of the Church Year and we celebrated Christ the King. While the calendar year runs from January through December and the school year August through May- there’s another sense of time through which we pass, and there’s another calendar to mark our life’s journey. This calendar is not about what we are doing or where we are going, but about what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, and who we are in him.
As the church year gathers to a close, its ending merges with a new beginning, with Advent only a week away. The theme of “gathering” plays out in our lives. We gathered for worship, we’re gathering offerings of canned goods for the local Food Bank, we’re gathering groceries to prepare family recipes treasured for generations, and we’re gathering with loved ones far and near to share in Thanksgiving celebrations a few days from now.
In a deeper sense, we gather up our hopes and dreams, our joys and sorrows, our worries and struggles and difficulties. We gather up this year that is passing and give thanks for the blessings of God and for the mercies and measures of grace that have been ours along the way.
We may be lost in our circumstances of the moment, struggling with loneliness or grief; facing a financial crisis or ongoing periods of treatment and recovery. We may find ourselves dealing with difficulties in relationships, problems with addiction, and loss of jobs, positions, and confidence in ourselves. We may be overwhelmed with life itself at this very moment. But these circumstances do not have the final word.
We have not been left to our own devices, bound by what is happening in our lives. We have not been forgotten by God, for God is always working his purpose out in your life and mine and in all of creation. All of God’s purposes will be accomplished, all will be safely gathered in, and in Christ, all things will hold together. In the words of Julian of Norwich, “All is well, all shall be well, every manner of thing shall be well.”
I came across a very simple prayer few days ago, and offer it as a prayer for Thanksgiving Day that children might be involved in, pointing to eyes, ears, hands, etc.:
“Thank You, Lord, for Everything”
Dear Lord, Thank you for the breath to say
Thank you for another day
Thank you for the eyes to see the world of beauty surrounding me
Thank you for the ears to hear your message of hope loud and clear
Thank you for the hands to serve and far more blessings than I deserve
Thank you for the legs to run the race of life until it’s won
Thank you for the voice to sing
Thank you, Lord, for everything. Amen.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends, together giving thanks for everything.
Elizabeth
An old friend always spoke of the “glorious” golden days of fall, but today there’s a chill in the air. The warm, gentle breezes, with bright sunlight dancing through many-colored leaves have passed, and winds toss the leaves about, covering the ground, and leaving trees empty and bare.
Sister Macrina Wiederkehr offers this prayer for such days in her book, Seasons of Your Heart.
“Prayer Before An Empty Tree”
Jesus,
as you move through each season,
one by one you have taken my leaves from me;
I am the story of your emptiness
You have told me well.
The part of me that feels stripped cries out to you,
“How can I give shade with so much gone?”
You speak to me of an inner shade
whose name is peace
the gift that comes from letting go.
Your story continues to be told in me.
Your story continues to unfold in me.
And suddenly
when I look again
I realize that
what you have taken from me
has only made me
free to see.
As we move through these days, let’s think about things in our lives we need to let go of; and let’s be open to God’s movement in our lives bringing seasons of change and “glorious” new beginnings.
Elizabeth