Rector’s Reflections
Wednesday 6th November 2024
Thy Kingdom Come, O God
Today I am starting a new series of reflections, in which I will be sharing some thoughts on the subject of the Kingdom of God. In the days ahead, we shall be exploring what we might mean by the phrase “the Kingdom of God”, and what this concept might mean for our lives as Christians. We probably find ourselves praying “Thy Kingdom Come” every day of our lives, but seldom give ourselves time and space to think what these words in the Lord’s Prayer might actually mean.
Why I have chosen this subject? Mainly for two reasons. The first reason is that concept of the Kingdom of God has the potential to transform our church life, and also the life of our communities. As we shall see, the “kingdom of God” means different things to different people, but at its heart is the idea of changing our world for the better. I am sure we can all look around us and see examples of where our world would benefit from some changes. The same can be said of the Church.
When we think about the “kingdom of God” we are thinking about how we might make the world a better place, and about God’s role in making this happen. How much is it our own responsibility as human beings to bring about the change we yearn to see? How much can the coming of the Kingdom be left in God’s hands? Or might God wish to bring about His Kingdom through the choices and decisions we choose to make as human beings?
The second reason why I have to write about this subject over the next couple of weeks is that it fits in neatly with where we are in the Church’s year. Shortly, we will be marking Remembrance Day. Remembrance services often features readings, prayers and hymns which pick up themes associated with the Kingdom of God, especially the theme of peace. We may well find ourselves singing the hymn which begins, “Thy Kingdom come, O God, Thy rule, O Christ begin”.
In a few weeks’ time, we shall be marking the feast of Christ the King, a Sunday specially set aside to focus on the significance of Christ’s kingship. And then straightaway we shall move into the season of Advent, a time when we will be preparing for the Coming of Christ and his Kingdom – Christ’s first coming, as a baby at Bethlehem, and his Second Coming, when he comes to judge the world.
And so while the subject of the kingdom of God is always relevant to us as Christians, it is particularly relevant at this time in the Church’s year.
Where shall we start? I think the words of the hymn, “Thy Kingdom come, O God”, provide us with a helpful way in to the subject, and I shall look at these words in tomorrow’s reflections.