Meeting Jesus in Cincinnati

This past week, many of us have been in Cincinnati for our sixth annual mission trip to the Millvale community. It has once again been a very challenging, exciting, and encouraging week with the children in the community.

One of the things I am always reminded of on this trip is that when you serve you are blessed as much – if not more – than those you serve. The smiles on the faces of the children here at Millvale are contagious. You can't help but love them!

This week I have had a glimpse of the world that Jesus imagines and describes in the Sermon on the Mount. It is not a world where power, prestige, and possessions have much worth. Rather, it is a world where the most important things are heart, humility, and hunger for God. It is a place where no one is too good for anyone else and we all live together as a community of people created in the image of Almighty God. Jesus describes the people in this kingdom in the following way...

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Imagine a world with these kind of people. Would it look different than the world we live in today? Absolutely!

But here is the secret. You and I are invited to participate in this kind of kingdom today. God is asking us to become a part of a movement whose aim is to turn the world upside down. It's a world where peace overcomes violence and mercy upends judgement. A place where we seek the best interests of others before we pursue our own desires. It's a kingdom where love and grace replace hate and aggression.

I had a glimpse of that world this week. I saw it embodied by a group of students who sacrificed a week of summer to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a group of people who are often overlooked, ignored, or labelled by much of the world. And that is exactly what the Kingdom of God is all about.

 

shine!
Jason