TOWARDS THE KINGDOM: LENT, DISCIPLESHIP AND PRAYER - Part 1
Towards the Kingdom: Lent, Discipleship and Prayer
“Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)
Introduction
The title of this talk is "Towards the Kingdom: Lent, Discipleship, and Prayer". We shall dwell on those aspects of the life of Christ which inspire the Lenten spirit and consequently also the pattern of our discipleship and prayer. Essentially that pattern is one of love, humility, self-denial, and service in the joyous expectation of the Kingdom. This is expressed in verses such as “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son” (John 3:16, love), “he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:6, humility and self-denial), “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew. 10:45, service).
Such is also the pattern of our discipleship and our prayer. There is no true love without humility, self-denial, and service. Our discipleship and prayer should be inspired by this combination of love, humility, self-denial, and service. This is the pattern of our Lenten journey and this is the hallmark of the Christian. Lent is a time of renewal, renewal of our discipleship and prayer. We shall divide the talk into these sections: The Destination: The Kingdom, then Discipleship: With Christ Towards the Kingdom, and finally Prayer: Towards the Kingdom within.
The Destination: The Kingdom
Lent is a journey and so is our discipleship and our prayer. Every journey acquires its meaning, its importance, and its purpose from its destination. Therefore we should think of Lent, diokijtscipleship, and prayer as a journey towards the Kingdom, not exclusively a journey towards Calvary. For Christians, there is no death without life. The picture is not complete if we focus on Calvary alone. What did Christ say to one of the thieves who was crucified with him? “This day you shall be with me in paradise”. This was said in response to the thief’s prayer “remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). On the cross, at the moment of death, we have the promise of life in the Kingdom. The thief looked beyond the cross, just as we are invited to look beyond our suffering and beyond Calvary during Lent.
We should not lose sight of this joyous expectation of the Kingdom as we journey through Lent, indeed as we journey through life. So, anything that is traditionally associated with Lent, penance, charity, self-denial, etc should always be seen in the light of the final destination - the joy of the Kingdom. Is this joyous expectation incompatible with the passion and death of Christ? No, it isn't look at Hebrews 12:2
"Looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross”. I believe that joy was the joyous vision of leading many to the Kingdom. We often need to look beyond our suffering just as Christ looked beyond the cross. The fullness of the Kingdom of course lies in the future. However, many see the Kingdom as exclusively in the future, something that, if we are lucky, we can enjoy but only after death. By thinking in these terms we are depriving ourselves of the glory of the Kingdom within us and among us. We can enjoy the Kingdom now. “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28). "For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21) The very first beatitude is “blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Note that the present tense is used theirs is the Kingdom, and notice also that in the other beatitudes, the future is used. Interesting!
How can we proclaim the Kingdom to others as Christ did if we have not experienced the Kingdom? “And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.” (Luke 9:2). “For he rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col. 1:13). We are called to live, enjoy and proclaim the Kingdom now and forever.
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