The Diocese of East Tennessee
Sermons

June 13, 1999
Pentecost III
Delivered at St. Thaddaeus, Chattanooga

Sermon: "The Kingdom of Heaven has come near"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Bishop of East Tennessee

I am grateful to the rector, the vestry, and other leaders of St. Thaddaeus for your kind and gracious welcome of Annie and me. We have enjoyed our time with you thus far and look forward to our relationships in the future as well. As some of you may know, I served in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina during the time that Father Bateman was there, too. I could tell some stories on him – but, then, he might return the favor. So, I think I’ll pass on that opportunity.

Our Gospel reading today picks up the theme which may be the most prominent one in Jesus’ teaching and preaching – the kingdom of God. We read, "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom." How often Jesus taught and preached and proclaimed the kingdom! Then we read that Jesus called the twelve apostles to join in his own work. What he instructed the twelve to teach and preach and proclaim was this: "The kingdom of heaven has come near." "The kingdom of heaven has come near."

Our other readings today tantalize us with the awareness of the kingdom’s nearness. In the Old Testament reading from Exodus, we come to the foot of Mt. Sinai with the people of God. Moses encounters God there on the mountain, and in fact, Moses soon will receive there the rules for living in relationship with God – rules we call "the Ten Commandments." Through Moses, God reminds the people of how He led them out of their oppression in Egypt, as if "on eagles’ wings." And God tells the people that they are His own special people – "a priestly kingdom and a holy nation." To those people, encamped at the foot of the mountain of God, therefore, the kingdom must have seemed close enough to touch.

The reality of the kingdom – in theological terms – St. Paul describes for us in the passage from Romans. "While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." And, continuing, "God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us." And so, Jesus – the first citizen of the kingdom of God – died for us, making us citizens of that kingdom and inheritors of the kingdom’s promises. The kingdom is indeed ours, by and through the action of Christ. It’s as though Christ sponsors us for adoption into the family of God and presents us in person to the Father. Indeed, with this awareness, "the kingdom of heaven has come near."

This kingdom – which is so near – is much more than a place. Rather – and more importantly – the kingdom has to do with relationships . . . relationships that find meaning and significance in our relationship with God in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Relationships of the kingdom are the objects of our collect today: "Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion." That’s kingdom talk. And, then, of course, our Lord himself taught us to pray for the kingdom: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Therefore, again, the kingdom is indeed much more than a place. It has to do with relationships.

Part of the joy of my responsibilities as bishop is to encounter people in relationship and to see glimpses of the kingdom of God. For instance, this diocese has been involved in Haiti for a number of years, and I, too, have worked with the people of that country in the past. Whenever I traveled to Haiti, I experienced a surprising awareness of my own circumstances. That is, invariably, I expected to take some worthwhile aid to Haiti, only to be given so much more in return – and to find myself richer as a result. I think the kingdom is like that. Indeed, I believe the kingdom becomes known in such moments.

Within our diocese, too, I have been privileged to discover the presence of the kingdom of God. For instance, I think of the grandparents I met recently who have taken on a great deal of the care of their nephew because of the unhealthy home environment of that young boy…I remember the woman in a wheelchair who must also carry around an oxygen bottle. She attends church every Sunday. She speaks of the inspiration and joy she receives within the church family, not realizing that she herself provides so much inspiration and joy to others… I think of the fellowship of potluck suppers. I have witnessed community so profound and deep in those settings – community that tends to the needs of pastoral care and spiritual growth for those gathered around the table of fellowship… And, finally, I think of the love and commitment expressed when a parish presents candidates for confirmation and reception. The parish answers "We will" to the question, "Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?"

These are kingdom moments – times that the kingdom of heaven comes near – opportunities within our relationships to know God the Father, in God the Son, through the power of God the Holy Spirit. Surely, it is within each other that we may see and know Jesus Christ, as he promised. And when that perception and knowledge is ours, then we experience the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus the Christ taught and preached and proclaimed that "the kingdom of heaven has come near." In our own lives, may we open the eyes of faith. May we perceive the kingdom of heaven when it comes near. And may we know with the certainty and the power of the promise of Jesus that it is indeed the kingdom of heaven that he gives to us!

Copyright ©1999 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee