Kingdom Came (The Third Day of Christmas)

Last updated on: December 28, 2020 at 11:46 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

Kingdom Came (The Third Day of Christmas) 2020-12-28T11:46:34-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ethiopian Orthodox

Let us live in peace, so far as is possible, in the Kingdom born before the foundation of the Earth, but fully revealed in the Nativity of the King.

Do not cease from mental fight, but in hard times first turn to self-examination: the spiritual warfare that Scripture commends. Only then can we, first doing no harm, seek justice with mercy in our communities.

We pray, as Jesus taught us: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven.” We also know that the Kingdom has come on Earth and in Heaven.

How is this?

We have a divine King, but we the subjects are not yet as we should be.

This is not a democracy, Jesus is Lord, King of Kings. There will be twelve apostles sitting on thrones, far beyond the reach of human resource departments. The Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, wields charity as she turns the world Godward. This is not a culture of celebrity: those chosen by God are the meek, the lowly, the forgotten. Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary all were not accounted worthy by the powerful, but became part of the royal lineage of the Kingdom.

Keeping this in mind is hard. Nobody is immune to the temptations of power. As the bottom is transformed to the top, the bottom can gain the very vices that destroyed those formerly in positions of authority. We pray for mercy and look to God.

Bethlehem did not open the door to individualism, but to a gathering, a church, that is part of this loving Kingdom. Power kneels to charity, but Divine Love pursues justice with this power. We become who we should be when we see ourselves as part of these dual communities, Kingdom and Church: one pursuing mercy, the other justice, both bound by absolute charity. This works out very imperfectly now when visible, so we pray that the Kingdom more fully come on Earth as it is in Heaven.

This is why the work of the church, the liturgy, must and has changed and developed so slowly. Any generation shares in the work and should and does leave small contributions building on that edifice, but not to exclude the work of past generations. The family is extended (even in time) and often includes an entire village or city neighborhood. Nobody should be alone. Nobody should be forgotten, even if centuries dead, because the family should extend and take in anyone who might be lonely.

Bethlehem did open the Heavens to our view of the glory of God and peace, goodwill to mankind.

When we work to save the lives of unborn children, to feed the poor, to find dignified work for all people, when Americans fight for racial equality, we are seeking justice that is a reflection of this vision of the Heavens. There all people gather and find a place in the righteous hierarchy of Heaven where the King cannot be bribed or fooled and where all is decided based on beauty: the pattern of redeemed creation.

Living this way is humbling, because we must love our enemies, even love ourselves (!), and seek justice with mercy. These feast days, and we are only in the third (!), are a time for renewal for that work.

Blessed Third Day of Christmas!

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

December 26, 2020

Let the Bad Go, The Feast of Stephen (Second Day of Christmas, Sometimes Called Boxing Day)

Next Post

December 28, 2020 Beauty has Saved the World (Fourth Day of Christmas)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the father of King Solomon?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jonathan Samuel Saul David

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »