The Kingdom and the Empire redux

A few years ago, I posted a page on this site contrasting the Kingdom that Jesus preached with the Empire(s) that man builds. The Empire is about power, control, influence and thought. The Kingdom is about love. Even in most religious environments, the Empire is more more prominent than the Kingdom. Emperor Theodosius even went so far as to name Jesus the head of the Byzantine Empire, forgetting that Yeshua said,

"The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, 'Here it is, ' or There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." —Luke 17:20-21

Yep, the words are inspiring, but if I'm really honest with myself, I've got to admit, I would like it to be outside of me. I'd like my leaders and teachers to bring it about. But only I can reveal it where I am. It's not a matter of getting the right guy into office, but getting my "self " out of office. This is the real point of Christianity, to get self out of the way, so the Light of God, which is already here, can shine.

Sometimes it seems that absolutely no one understands, and when I feel that way, I have to realize that I've lost sight of the truth, and have become stuck on appearance. The kingdom is here right now. Despite terrorism and war, corporate greed and personal licentiousness, gluttony and famine, God is here, in every soul, waiting for the mask of the cravings, angers, and fears to break, like a butterfly shedding its chrysalis.

This is the work of the kingdom, to know that we are nothing, and in that No-thing, is everything. The only thing. One thing only. Heaven is here. How creatively we hide it! That's Jedi life in the real world.