Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done on Earth

Lessons: Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 6:9-10: This third in-depth exploration of the Lord's Prayer looks at "the kingdom of God" as Jesus' primary metaphor for what God wants for God's world.  God's kingdom is God's will - it is what we pray for when we pray, "thy will be done on earth."  Jesus intended us to understand the kingdom of God as an alternative to the oppressive kingdoms and empires of this world, not as an escape from this life but as a call to live in this alternative way here and now.  In fact, Jesus said, God’s kingdom is already here; it is at hand, it has arrived.[i]  It’s here – and real – wherever real people who struggle with what it means to be truly human find their own voices and know the gracious, unconditional acceptance of the God who loves all people whoever we are, whatever we are.  And then pass that along.  [i]  Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 1:5.