I learned years ago (probably something associated with Westar Institute) that the Greek "basilea" can be translated as Kingdom (especially in the KING James Version) but it can also be translated as Empire to emphasize that the Empire of God (in which peace is achieved through love) is a direct challenge to the Empire of Rome (in which peace is achieved through violence).
The end of L'Engle's poem brings to mind a favorite choral anthem by Randall Thompson, setting the lines from 17th Century poet Robert Herrick: "Christ, He requires still, wheresoe'er He comes / To feed or lodge, to have the best of rooms: / Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part /
Of all the house: the best of all's the heart.". The heart is surely the seat of kin-dom.
Love, love Madeleine L'Engle but never read that beautiful and totally perfect poem for these times-- even though it was doubtless written a while back. And I love the idea of kin-dom much better than kingdom. I work hard to help create "family", or a kin-dom, in our somewhat fractured local church. Thank you.
Thank you for addressing the very question I have had on my mind this morning. A question of "what is the most important thing you would like have happen" was posed during an Advent study session this morning. The answer that immediately came to my mind was "for the kingdom of God to be fully realized", but I was unable to get past the word "kingdom" and what that word implies. I needed to understand and have in my thinking what this Advent Calendar posted today. So, my answer for that question is now "for the community of God (a "kin-dom") to become fully realized."
Thank you so much for your words, Diana! They are a blessing. Combining your ideas here with those shared in the SALTProject Advent reflections for a radical inclusivity.
Another very helpful shift is humankin instead of humankind. Immediately the sense of related family is embraced. Kind is neutral, flat, generic. Kin joins us all together.
Ugh, why do you have to change my severe dislike of kin-dom :) I'm still not completely sold on it for regular everyday use, but I do very much like the way you have described it here and it will become a part of vocabulary now
I learned years ago (probably something associated with Westar Institute) that the Greek "basilea" can be translated as Kingdom (especially in the KING James Version) but it can also be translated as Empire to emphasize that the Empire of God (in which peace is achieved through love) is a direct challenge to the Empire of Rome (in which peace is achieved through violence).
The end of L'Engle's poem brings to mind a favorite choral anthem by Randall Thompson, setting the lines from 17th Century poet Robert Herrick: "Christ, He requires still, wheresoe'er He comes / To feed or lodge, to have the best of rooms: / Give Him the choice; grant Him the nobler part /
Of all the house: the best of all's the heart.". The heart is surely the seat of kin-dom.
Love, love Madeleine L'Engle but never read that beautiful and totally perfect poem for these times-- even though it was doubtless written a while back. And I love the idea of kin-dom much better than kingdom. I work hard to help create "family", or a kin-dom, in our somewhat fractured local church. Thank you.
Thank you for addressing the very question I have had on my mind this morning. A question of "what is the most important thing you would like have happen" was posed during an Advent study session this morning. The answer that immediately came to my mind was "for the kingdom of God to be fully realized", but I was unable to get past the word "kingdom" and what that word implies. I needed to understand and have in my thinking what this Advent Calendar posted today. So, my answer for that question is now "for the community of God (a "kin-dom") to become fully realized."
Thank you so much for your words, Diana! They are a blessing. Combining your ideas here with those shared in the SALTProject Advent reflections for a radical inclusivity.
Kin-dom makes so much more sense and is so much more powerful for us/me to understand and use in this time of upheaval! Thank you!
Another very helpful shift is humankin instead of humankind. Immediately the sense of related family is embraced. Kind is neutral, flat, generic. Kin joins us all together.
Ugh, why do you have to change my severe dislike of kin-dom :) I'm still not completely sold on it for regular everyday use, but I do very much like the way you have described it here and it will become a part of vocabulary now
Powerful!! Thank you for this Advent Calendar