DEVOTION Thursday of Pentecost XVI

READING Matthew 4:12–25 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Luther’s Small Catechism, The Lord’s Prayer, the Second Petition Thy kingdom come. What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

REFLECTION Decades from now, when historians are assessing the year 2020 they will undoubtedly have much to say about what it was like for people. So much has happened it boggles the mind. A virus, some of whom feel is overblown and others think undersold, has taken life after life. Peaceful protests and violent ones have sparked national debates about how life is perceived and experienced by various of groups of people. Add this a political season never lacking in drama, including the loss of a Supreme Court Justice revered by many. It does not matter where you fall within the spectrum of responses and opinions to the situations described above. We have all experienced this year which, perhaps more than others, reminds us of the brokenness in the world and the need for a savior. It is a dark time but light dawned two thousand years ago, half a world away. Jesus had been in the desert and conquered the temptations of Satan. Having heard that John the Baptist was arrested for speaking out against Herod’s illicit relationship, Jesus withdrew to Galilee. According to St. Matthew, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy. “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” Hope was enfleshed. Jesus was there, bringing light to darkness, life to those who dwelt in the shadow of death. The words Jesus preaches as he begins his earthly ministry are, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In other words, Jesus is calling those who see him to be wholly converted to the new order of things. The kingdom of heaven being at hand is another way of saying that Jesus is ushering in the rule and reign of God right in front of their eyes. A place is not at hand, Jesus is. He calls people to himself and he heals them. The calling of the disciples and the ministry of Jesus described in St. Matthew’s gospel above speak to the reality that the kingdom of heaven, the rule and reign of God in Christ, is both spiritual and temporal. Luther’s explanation of the Second Petition speaks to the reality of the two aspects of God’s kingdom coming. “The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.” That is to say, we receive the gift of faith, the forgiveness of sins, and the reshaping of our relationship with God from the work of the Holy Spirit. Those gifts, that new reality, our identity, are to be lived out in service to the world. There is a spiritual side that receives and a temporal side that embodies what has been received. This is how God’s kingdom comes among us, through lives of service. Perhaps we would do well in such a tumultuous time to remember the things given by God, received by us, that we share with the world by how we live. It may be dark but light has dawned. The kingdom isn’t a place, it is a person. Christ has come. He has given us his gifts. His kingdom continues to come as we receive those gifts and share those gifts with the world around us.

PRAYER Heavenly Father, we pray “Thy kingdom come.” Teach us what this means. Remind us that your kingdom certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but help us to pray that it may come to us also. It comes when you give us your Holy Spirit, so that by your grace we believe your holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. We ask this through your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.