While my wife and I were preparing for our son’s baby dedication at the La Sierra University Church, one of the pastors emailed us questions to get to know us better and to understand our love for and relationship with our little one. The following question stood out to us the most:
“What are your hopes for the newest member of your family as they continue to grow?”
This is a beautiful and essential question. However, while we were answering it, we also considered the state of our nation and how our son, who currently smiles at everyone, will be confronted with a world that is not always friendly.
What is a Christian response to the tension that evil brings?
Jesus was asked about the kingdom of God during a troubling time. This question came right between the story of Jesus healing an outcast, suffering from leprosy, and the parable of a persistent widow who was more than likely being denied her social security net. Jesus’ response to the question of the kingdom of God must have come as a shock:
“The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17: 20b, 21).
How can we experience the kingdom of God now if our present moment is in disarray?
This can be a tough passage to digest because most sermons you might have heard about God’s kingdom point us to the future and detach us from this present moment.
Jesus guides us to a present kingdom that reveals his presence in a grim world. When we live in the present, we can receive and experience the beauty of God’s kingdom! We do not have to be anxious about who we are supposed to be. The kingdom of God begins with us in our skin. Living that truth, with a faith that seeks God’s presence – whether we’re right, wrong, or indifferent – guides us to God’s goodness.
When Jesus states that the kingdom of God is here, he calls us to practice being aware of our surroundings with discernment and not with suspicion of the other. He challenges us to experience the humility of realizing that we do not always do and say the right things. He also asks us to seek forgiveness for our personal and communal sins so that we can become a healing presence in a spiritually gloomy world.
We often forget that God’s beauty can be found in the midst of challenging circumstances. Some of my most significant moments in ministry were witnessing people let go of their ideology filled with hate and self-centeredness and move towards a theology of love that calls us to be a light where there is darkness. This is a slice of the kingdom of God!
Adam Bucko, in his book, “Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide,” gives the following advice about Christian mindfulness:
- Protect yourself from a life of constant distractions.
- Commit to a daily practice of contemplative prayer.
- Practice the remembrance of God throughout the day.
- End the day with an exam asking God to help you see your day through Christ’s eyes, reflecting on these four questions:
- What am I grateful for today?
- Where have I felt God’s presence?
- Where have I missed an opportunity to welcome God’s presence?
- Is there anything I am sorry for?
Conclude with a prayer asking God for what you need for the next day to do better.
Taking a personal inventory of who we are, considering the gospel, helps us come to terms with our social location so that we can meet Jesus where he is most needed, amongst the suffering.
How do we now answer the baby dedication question with the good news?
We hope our son will see that the kingdom of God is at hand and that he will have the discernment to live in the present moment. We pray that he may live his life to the fullest, while respecting the stories of others. We want him to experience the joys of life, while he is learning how to take a self-inventory, and we want him to experience and be part of the work of Christ to make this world a better place.
This is also my prayer for you as well!
Derrick Cruz is a devoted husband and father, pursuing a PhD in Psychology.