MONDAY, May 10 Rogation Day

Matthew 13:1-16. Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven..."

What is the kingdom? It is what we must have--you and I, everyone. Jesus came to be the kingdom, to bring it, to open it to everyone. We cannot know its entirety but we can live in it. Jesus was too wise to offer us a photograph of the kingdom. Instead, he kept saying, "It is like this, it is like that." As his hearers got his meaning, so we can get it if we want to.

We know what we mean when we say "the animal kingdom" or "the vegetable kingdom." It is the way these living things grow and live together. It is their world. Something surrounds them--we call it law, but it is more than that. They never break out of its bounds. It is their life.

Do we have anything like that? We belong to the animal kingdom, but we can't stay there. We keep breaking out. We yearn and grope for something else. There must be a different kingdom for human beings. Jesus gives the answer: The only place for you to be yourself is in the kingdom of God. Keep seeking it. I have opened the kingdom to you. (1938)

PRAY for the Diocese of Chubu (Japan)

Ps 80 * 77, [79]; Leviticus 25:35-55; Colossians 1:9-14

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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May 10, 2010 at 9:47 am

Written by Mary kier,

Thank you for that clear view of what "the kingdom or God"
means. Described as through a parable.

The Good news!

May 10, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Written by Gaye Anne McWade,

God is near! Here! I love knowing that!
I'm able to look more than once at my day's bits of stuff knowing there's more to them and me then I see at first glance . . .May I participate in His will being done on earth as it is in Heaven, today!

Opened my eyes!

May 10, 2010 at 3:15 pm

Written by Avery Sanger,

We often hear the term "Kingdom of God" bandied about, but what that really means has always been a bit fuzzy for me. I love the description of it in this meditation! Thinking of it as compared to the animal kingdom or vegetable kingdom really brought great images and ideas to my mind! Describing the Kingdom of God as "the only place for you to be yourself" is so wonderful! We're not talking about a future "place" or a reward for "following the rules," we're talking about living my best life here and now, as God meant me to live it. Thank you for these wonderful meditations - and now for this website!

...

May 10, 2010 at 11:35 pm

Written by Steve Doutt,

This is one of those meditations that I cut out and use for a bookmark in my bible so that I can refer to it until I have it internalized. (I also get the hard copy Forward Day by Day -- it's a little pocket-sized newsprint.)

Loving it!

May 12, 2010 at 8:18 am

Written by Wendy Manley,

Seems I can't get enough of hearing about and thinking about The Kingdom
of God! Each time I do I am renewed. I love the comments that follow. I love this Celebration of 75 years of Forward using meditations from the past 75 years. It is so wonderfully connecting to all times. I love reading the meditations on line and I also read from the quarterly booklet of Forward. Thanks be to God and everyone participating.

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