The kingdom of God is at hand

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

- Mark 1:14-28

As we continue through Mark's Gospel, events move along at a very fast clip. In yesterday's reading, we read of the baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, and the Theophany (or revelation of the Trinity). Immediately afterward, we read, the Spirit "drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him."

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, . . . " My study bible says here, "Jesus preaches the gospel of the kingdom of God: the Good News of the royal reign of God revealed decisively through the Person, words and works of Jesus, the fullness of the faith of Christ." Mark's Gospel moves at such a fast pace, so that when we read details we know they are significant. Here, in a very short phrase beginning this verse, we're told that John is in prison. It's important to know that such a great figure as John the Baptist in some way "makes room" for Christ. In John's Gospel, he will say of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease." It is at this time that Jesus comes to Galilee preaching His gospel.

. . . and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." The "decrease" of John the Baptist is the sign of fulfillment -- the old is finished, and John is the last and the greatest of all the prophets in the perspective of Jesus. My study bible notes, "To repent denotes an about-face in life, a necessary part of faith and the experience of the Kingdom as a present reality. The Kingdom is yet to come, but it is also at hand, already here. It is inaugurated but not yet fulfilled." To repent, of course, is to "change one's mind." The "gospel" (Gr. evangelion) is the "good message" or "good announcement." So the "about face" of repentance is for belief, in order to hear and to perceive something -- an important, "good" message. It is so we may be present to the reality of that message!

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. My study bible says of this passage, "Time has elapsed and many events have occurred between the temptation of Jesus and the call of the first disciples. Jesus chooses simple fishermen as messengers of the divine gospel." What intrigues me, once again, in this passage, appears as a detail: "they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants." Repeatedly, Jesus' acts and the people who surround Him and make up His apostles and followers teach us about loyalty, community and family. The "hired servant" is a term Jesus will use to imply those without true faith, who may been seen by their lack of true love for the flock, for the followers or community of the Body of Christ. This passage implies nothing about the relationship of father Zebedee to his sons, but it tells us everything about the kingdom: that it will demand great loyalties, it will teach love on a new basis, it will come before all things and other relationships, it will define community. It will shake up our sense of how we relate to the world and to one another, our priorities, and how we "do business" in the world. The "good news" or "good message" is heard by those who can perceive the presence of the kingdom, even among us. My study bible also points out that this is not the first meeting of John and James Zebedee with Jesus. "They obey Him and immediately leave their nets because He has already established a relationship with them, and they trust Him." Trust is an important understanding of relationship in this kingdom. The Greek word for faith is the same as to trust. My study bible points out in this passage that "called suggests discipleship is an invitation issued by Jesus, the emphasis being on His initiative--the opposite of rabbinic discipleship, where the student took the initiative to follow the leader (rabbi). Jesus does not hesitate to include groups of friends and relatives among His disciples. Here are two sets of brothers, and the two families are friends, perhaps even relatives." To be called is also to be able to hear and to perceive a message. One must have ears to hear all of this!

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. "The scribes," my study bible notes, "speak by virtue of their official role and scholarly education. They quote others, usually earlier, well-known teachers; at times they must be boring. Jesus speaks and acts by an inner, divine authority. He needs no credentials nor the renown of others to back Him up." There is an immediacy and a presence to Jesus, something felt and sensed in the power and authority with which He speaks. This backs up our sense of the perception of the kingdom that is at hand, that is present to us. We must be present to it.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. My study bible says of this passage, "Jesus demonstrates His authority not only by His teaching, but by dealing powerfully with this unclean spirit (v. 23). Not one demon ever successfully resists His command. Here a spirit tries to command Jesus: Let us alone (v. 24). It does not work. Jesus responds with two commands: (1) be quiet, and (2) come out (v. 25). The unclean spirit has no choice but to obey Jesus because God has authority over these spirits. The demons recognize Jesus as God without having full understanding of what this means. But they do rightly fear that, with the coming of the Holy One (v.24), the time of their confinement has come." Personally, I'm always intrigued by the demons' response to Jesus. They know who He is. It is a kind of taste of the reality of the presence of this kingdom in our midst -- there is a spiritual reality that is at work amongst us and with us, only we need to be present to it to understand it. Here, the "unclean spirits" know who Jesus is, they recognize Him. While they create life difficulties for human beings, the saving power of Christ is an authority they cannot resist. The kingdom is at hand, and it is here to do its work with us and among us. Jesus will share His authority and power with us to help us in our lives, to give us strength to cope with our problems and difficulties. Being aware of that "present help" in all circumstances is a part of being present to the kingdom of God in our midst.

I have been thinking a lot about this sense of "being present" to the kingdom. I'm a practitioner of contemplative prayer, which one can find in various forms in Christian practice, both East and West. So, the question here is a very important one to me personally. What does it mean to be present to the kingdom of God? How does one practice repentance, or "change of mind" so that one is always aware of this presence at all times? Many contemplative techniques teach us about "mindfulness" - but to be present and awake, alert, to this kingdom and its reality is a very important historical part of Christian teaching that has come to us from the Gospels and the words of Jesus, who will teach His followers that they must remain alert, awake, and always ready for the kingdom (and His return). So these Gospel passages are in some sense a "wake up call" for all of us. What is this reality that is expressed through Jesus' encounter with the demons? Immediately after the revelation of the Trinity at His baptism (see yesterday's reading), Jesus is "driven into the wilderness" by the Spirit - and there He was tempted by Satan and at the same time ministered to by angels. So we have an important reality to understand, but it's not something that is far away. It is in our midst, and Jesus in His Person, in His incarnation in the world, brings us a physical presence that will remain through grace and the anointing of the world by the Spirit. It is all a grand "wake up call." Are we present to Its work in us and among us? Can we be awake enough to the present moment to understand it, and to perceive its ministrations for us? Can we allow it to help us and to be our strength in times of trouble and difficulties, and to help us with the problems that plague us as human beings? St. Paul will hear, in response to a prayer about his own infirmities, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," and he will go on to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Let us understand, then, the power of this kingdom and its presence to us, and the meanings in this story. Can we be awake enough to respond, as do the first apostles? Can we hear the message and the call? Will we allow in this help, so that our weakness may be made strong in this power?

The kingdom of heaven is at hand!

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make His paths straight.'"

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

- Matthew 3:1-12

In yesterday's reading, we were introduced to John the Baptist through Mark's Gospel. We received the prophecy quoted in today's reading from Matthew, and we also learned of John's baptism for repentance, in preparation for the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. See Prepare the way of the LORD. Today the lectionary takes us into the similar passage from Matthew, who adds a little extra for our understanding, as we move through Advent.

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.'" My study bible has quite a few copious notes on nearly every verse of today's reading, which I find of great interest. Here it says that "the wilderness of Judea is the barren region descending from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. Preparation for Jesus' ministry begins with the call of John the Baptist to repent (v. 2). The reason: the kingdom . . . is at hand. Repentance, which always accompanies belief, is a total about-face. It is a radical change of one's spirit, mind and heart, a complete reorientation of the whole of one's life and being. It is the necessary first step on the way of the LORD (v. 3) and is followed by the confession of sins, the decisive act of baptism, and an actual change in one's life, the 'fruits worthy of repentance' (vv. 6, 8-12)." "The kingdom of heaven is at hand!" is essentially the same message Jesus will teach His apostles to use as they are sent on their first mission, and Jesus Himself will also teach using this phrase. John the Baptist, who is a prophet, is seeing the reality of that kingdom, and preparing all for its reception.

Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. My study bible notes that, "John's ascetic lifestyle is in conformity with that of the Jewish sects, such as the Essenes, who made their home in the wilderness and whose purpose was to prepare for the coming Kingdom of God. His clothing is typical of a prophet. Elijah, who also wore a leather belt (2 Kings 1:8), was the prophet expected to prepare Israel for the Messiah (17:9-13; Mal. 4:5,6). Monastics especially follow in Elijah's and the Baptist's mission of repentance and prophecy." The note in my study bible reflects the tone of Matthew's Gospel, and it's significantly different in shape, if you will, from the similar reading in Mark's Gospel that we read yesterday. Here, there is a strong emphasis on expectation and the repentance necessary to receive that kingdom. What does it ask of us in preparation? John's asceticism and chosen humility is a key to the answer to that question.

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. A note reads, "People are baptized by John, confessing their sins, so that they may be prepared to receive the Messiah. Such preparation is usual in coming to faith. Confession of sin is a sign of repentance and is essential to baptism even today. John's baptism, however, was for remission of sins only, purifying people for the coming of the Messiah and helping to deliver them from the wrath to come; it did not confer regeneration nor adoption as a child of God (v. 11), as does Christian baptism." Repentance here centers on coming to terms with the reality of one's internal spiritual life. To confess a sin is not so much to make a list of faults, but to be aware of one's state of spirituality. It is the beginning of understanding of relationship to Creator, and where we stand in terms of the spiritual journey that will be asked of us as we seek to meet that kingdom.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" A note teaches, "The Pharisees and Sadducees are skeptical of John's mission and oppose Jesus. Sadducees, members of the high-priestly and landowning class, controlled the temple and the internal political affairs of the Jews. Denying the resurrection of the dead, they had no messianic hope. The Pharisees were a lay religious movement centered on the study of the Law and on strict observance of all its regulations. They believed in resurrection and solely on the power of one's good works according to Mosaic Law, and that the Messiah was only a glorious man. John's epithet for them, brood of vipers (12:34; 23:33), sharply denounces their malice as being influenced by 'the snake,' the Adversary, Satan (Job 1:6)." Clearly, John's scathing remark shows his attitude toward the Pharisees and Sadducees, and his opinion of the religious leadership. It mirrors Jesus' attitude toward the hypocrisy of those who will criticize both Himself and John the Baptist. We are clear on where we stand: John is a charismatic preacher, widely believed to be a prophet, who speaks out against the established religious hierarchy - and who will be beheaded by their ally in political authority. This is a kingdom breaking through into a place of its adversaries, those who will try to stop it, and to destroy those who bring its reality to us.

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, . . . My study bible says, "Repentance, confession, and baptism lead to fruits worthy of repentance, a way of life consonant with the expected messianic Kingdom (see Gal. 5:22-25). If no fruit appears, sacramental acts and spiritual discipline are useless." Why begin this process of self-revelation, the change of true repentance, unless it comes to fruition? Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit - and it is up to each one to reveal the work of the Spirit in themselves, the gifts it brings and develops. These are the fruits worthy of repentance.

". . . and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." A note reads here: "The warning that from these stones (Heb. 'ebanim) God can raise up children (Heb. banim) is a Hebrew play on words. God does not admit fruitless children into His house; He creates new children from the Gentiles." Stones are an important spiritual metaphor for the human beings who will make up this Church in the future. This same term will be used by Jesus in replying to the criticism of the temple leadership, as His disciples welcome Him into Jerusalem, and later in Peter's Epistle when he refers to the members of the Church as "living stones" who comprise the "spiritual house" with Christ as the cornerstone. To "bear fruits" is to be such a "living stone."

"And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." A note says, "Even now shows that the Baptist anticipates divine judgment on God's people through the coming of the Messiah (v. 12). Fire, a symbol of destruction, often describes the final judgment (see Is. 33:11; 66:24; Ezek. 38:22, 39:6; Zeph. 1:18)."

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." A note here says, "John's baptism of water only prepares for Christ's baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. Christ baptizes in fire, for as the grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, so is that grace poured out in baptism. In John's culture, a slave would carry the king's sandals. Thus John powerfully contrasts himself with God's Son, Jesus the Messiah." John's testimony as prophet sums up a tremendous picture of this kingdom breaking through into our midst, but it is a kingdom of tremendous energy, of fire - and it will winnow that which cannot accept its energy and use it to bear fruits of love and spiritual beauty.

"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." A note here reads, "The figure of winnowing the threshed grain from the chaff is a metaphor for divine judgment, which always separates good from evil." The fire John mentions is a very important symbol, because it is one that works in all ways to build this kingdom: it gives energy to those who will use it, it is the power behind the understanding given to "each in one's own language" at Pentecost, it is the test of every soul, so that we go through experiences that teach us to discard that which we do not use, which is not a part of the yielded fruits of the spirit, and move on more deeply and fully into that kingdom. It also burns that which cannot accept and hold its reality.

Judgment, then, seems to rest in our attitudes. Can we accept this kingdom? Can we "bear fruits worthy of repentance?" Can we make this transition out of one state of mind and into another? Will the fire enliven us, instill in us new energy and creativity and power and communication and understanding, or will it burn? Can we give up the things that cannot stand in this fire? In a sense, it is all up to us. But the Holy Spirit with which we will all be baptized and anointed will do Its work, and it is to separate, to reveal, to transform. It nurtures and builds, gives wisdom, and consumes that which stands in the way. It is also a cleansing and purifying fire. Where do we stand in that fire? Can we, too, be the living stones who build this "spiritual house," this "holy priesthood," that offers up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ? (See 1 Peter 2:5.) The sacrifices we offer are the things we submit to that fire, as we discard from ourselves that which does not fit in this kingdom, and change through repentance, or "change of mind" as the original Greek word translates - so that we become the stones that stand, and bear fruits filled with the energy of that fire. How does the fire of the spiritual energy of grace teach you to go forward, to cast away the parts of yourself you need to discard, and to build up your life with the fruits of its love? This gift does its work in us, but we do our part to prepare to receive it, so that we bear the fruits worthy of the gift. For today, let us look to the light of Advent as the luminous blazing fire of the Spirit that is our gift.