We read that the disciples went about proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. Whatever we make of the idea of the Kingdom of God it is clear that it is radically good news for us.

The gospel of Matthew gives us a clear picture of what the kingdom looks like and what it is about. It shows us the ethics of the kingdom and paints a picture of what kingdom living looks like.

We pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven.” This is challenging and transforming. What does the kingdom look like? It is unlike anything we have seen. It is not a kingdom of might, armies, power, and politics. It is a kingdom in which the poor are blessed, in which mercy is valued. It is a kingdom of peacemakers and righteousness.

If these are kingdom values, then this is what we are to be about as the people of God. In a day of threats from North Korea, tweets from Trump, and unrest in many parts of the world, we need to proclaim the good news of Christ – the good news of the kingdom – that the leaders of our world might have hearts that long for peace because they are in love with the Prince of Peace.

“Those who believe in ‘redemptive violence’ – that the kingdom will come through shedding the blood of enemies – will be disgusted. Those who believe that the best path is to compromise and adapt to the status quo will find Jesus’ words unsettling and therefore unsatisfactory.”

I know, this sounds impossible. But with God all things are possible. What would it mean if we began to think that this kind of kingdom is not only possible, but the only path to joy, the only authentically saving message that we have?