What did Jesus mean when he said: “My kingdom is not of this world?”

I wonder if Jesus had a glimpse down the corridors of time and space when he said: My Kingdom is not of this world. I wonder if he was given a special grace that moment – and like someone’s who’s whole life is flashing in front of him – the whole life of the future church flashed in front of him. And as he peered down time and space, he saw this place and this time.

• He saw a few of you making the effort to sit down at a table where a kid is eating alone and trying to cheer their day.
• He saw folks gathering early on the first Friday of the month, when they could have been sleeping in, to work at Habitat for Humanity so that others could have a house to sleep in.
• He saw the work that it took to put on the Hunger Banquet – and the dedication of so many to staff tables and collect canned goods and the like.
• He saw people giving up their Tuesday nights to work at Child Center of Our Lady.
• He saw Thursday night RCIA classes and Monday night Choir rehearsals.
• He saw others of you lending an ear to a student who was having a difficult day – making sure they were understood and loved.

And he knew: “My kingdom is not of this world. It is NOT of this world.

And as he looked down the corridors of time, did he know that what he set in motion would be so different, so opposite to what this world teaches?

• Did he foresee a post 9-11 world?
• Did he know of such a thing as suicide bombers – people who would drive a car full of explosives and blow themselves and it up in front of the very UN building who’s workers were trying to bring peace to their country?
• Did he know about Exxon and Enron and Putnam Securitites – companies who would pollute and defraud and cheat and steal for the almighty dollar?
• Did he look around that courtroom that day, filled with Roman soldiers and authorities and the trappings of that great empire – and know: “My Kingdom is not of THIS world.”

Or maybe he said this because he knew the Twelve whom he was handing his church on to: one who had betrayed him, one who would shortly deny him; all of whom had left him in his moment of need. “My kingdom can’t be of this world – ‘cause neither they, nor those who follow them as disciples (that means you and me) will ever get it right. “Father God, please let it not be of this world.

Did he know, did he see down the ages and with a glimmer in his eye, and perhaps a wry smile at Pilot, say: “My kingdom is not here” because he was seeing us – and how ‘not of the world’ we choose to live when we are our best and truest selves. Did he know about how humbly we would carry each other’s burdens, how amazingly we would hold each other in love? Did he see how we honored each other in conversations, how we entered into relationships that were so honest and true and that called forth the best in each other, that he knew the different world we’d be creating? “As it is, my kingdom is not of this world.

If there is a truth to what Jesus was born for, lived for and died for – is it not precisely this? That the kingdom of God is the one where love reigns, where forgiveness rules, where sacrifice is the order of the day, where thinking of the other first is our deepest truth and our greatest priority. If His Kingdom is not here (gesture to the world) but here (gesture to heart) then there is a choice you and I must make this evening. Will we live “not of this world” in all the decisions and choices of our hearts and lives? Will we say yes to a life modeled after our crucified king and messiah? And will we spend our lives to make that kingdom a reality?