Wednesday, November 27, 2002 "A Kingdom Sign"

" The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light " Matthew 4:16a

Verse 17 of this Matthew text points us to a "kingdom sign." And the sign it points us to is in verse 16. It would appear that when folks are sitting deep in darkness and they see a great light that's a sign of the kingdom!

Interesting. I suspect most often we look for the absence of darkness as a kingdom sign. We look for no more tears. We look for all sunshine. But this Gospel writing suggests that when the people weighed down in darkness see a great light; when those bent over and burdened have the light shine on them in their darkness: the kingdom has come near! It's a kingdom sign.

We shall forever be puzzled by this "in our midst but not yet" part of the experience of God's presence. We want it all but we never get it all. How can it be in our midst but not be here all at the same time?

Someone has said, "Folks get so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good." Perhaps we miss the kingdom signs because we are looking too far ahead. Perhaps we sacrifice peace and justice now because we look too far ahead. Or perhaps we look only at the darkness (our accommodation of the Gospel) and decide to settle.

The gift in the darkness is the brightness of the light. We dare not welcome darkness just so the light can shine no more than we would welcome sin so grace could abound. But in the reality of darkness we need not turn away to see the light. In the reality of suffering we need not turn away to know healing. In the reality of fear we need not turn away to see hope. Right there: in the darkness, in the suffering, in the fear, right there: light and healing and hope break through. Right there. God is doing a new thing. Can we see it? Right there. An unlikely place. Unlikely people. Surprising God who gives us kingdom signs right in the darkness.

Janet Ellinger


All contents copyright 2002 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.