In this time of Advent, when we remember how the Creator God became flesh and blood and moved into our neighborhood, we reflect on his Kingdom.
An upside down Kingdom. But a Kingdom that is at hand — now — and one that we’re all invited to help bring about.
So what will it look like? The prophet Isaiah writes (65:17-25):
“Pay close attention now: I’m creating new heavens and a new earth.
All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten.
Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I’m creating: I’ll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight.
I’ll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish;
No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don’t enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal-anything less will seem like a cheat.
They’ll build houses and move in. They’ll plant fields and eat what they grow.
No more building a house that some outsider takes over, no more planting fields that some enemy confiscates, for my people will be as long-lived as trees, my chosen ones will have satisfaction in their work.
They won’t work and have nothing come of it, they won’t have children snatched out from under them. For they themselves are plantings blessed by God, with their children and grandchildren likewise God-blessed.
Before they call out, I’ll answer. Before they’ve finished speaking, I’ll have heard.
Wolf and lamb will graze the same meadow, lion and ox eat straw from the same trough, but snakes-they’ll get a diet of dirt!
Neither animal nor human will hurt or kill anywhere on my Holy Mountain,” says God.
Beautiful!
What do you think? How do you read it?
