If you were asked to reconstruct the content of what Jesus preached, what would you include? Maybe you should think about that for a few minutes before you read on........
...... Most often, instructions about morality is what gets repeated in Jesus' name. We envision Jesus saying, "Don't steal!" or "No drinking!" or "Ignore your sensuality." Morality is too often the end all of what Jesus leaves with us.
In this passage, Jesus says he must preach the good news of the kingdom of God. And we need to be asked whether he is sharing that good news that we can be a part of that kingdom if we behave appropriately (which is the message morality sermons would have us hear) or if he might be saying that the good news is God's establishment of a kingdom which welcomes us?
The kingdom of God is the flesh and blood relationship which unites us with God and with the incarnation of God among us. The kingdom of God is that invitation to live together in harmony and peace and justice. The kingdom of God would prevent us from ever using violence against another, thinking that our actions will merit some other-worldly-reward. The kingdom of God instructs us that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.
I grow weary of those who reduce the coming of Jesus into the world as another reinforcement of the message of the Pharisees. Jesus came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God - not to try to prevent us from saying four-letter words. When we live in that kingdom, we are transformed and we behave in a way that shows respect and honor and appreciation for all of God's creation. Morality grows out of our involvement in the kingdom; it does not determine our admittance.
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