Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading
Revelation 21:1–4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” (NRSV)

Reflection
The beautiful kingdom of God — it’s hard to even imagine it. Sometimes we call it the commonwealth of God because it’s so different from what we call a kingdom. Sometimes we call it the realm of God, again to emphasize how different things will be in that time and place.

In that realm there is not domination; there is not injustice; there is not suffering, death, or pain. The wealth and wellness of the people is a commonwealth, a place of public weal, of wellness, for all.

These verses at the end of the book of Revelation recall to mind some verses from earlier that say, “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9).

Jesus teaches us to pray for this day when he teaches us the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Let us pray as Jesus taught us and work for that beautiful commonwealth of God.

Prayer
God of all creation, help me to imagine and to hope and to work for your commonwealth. Give me the vision and the trust to imagine your kingdom as a true kin-dom, in which all people know joy and flourishing and love. Amen.

Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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