Chaplain's Chat 2026 Term 3 Week 6
By Rev Lisa Williamson, BDC School Chaplain
Hello friends,
This term in chapel, we are leaning into the theme of ‘Kingdom’.
‘Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom’ is one of the marks of mission - one of the things Anglican communities are committed to doing together as they live into God’s calling in their lives. The words ‘Your kingdom come’ are also part of the Lord’s Prayer, which many Christians say regularly. But what is this Kingdom, and why is it good news?
The idea of a Kingdom of God is one that comes up again and again in our scriptures. In the writings from before Jesus’ time (called the Old Testament or the Hebrew scriptures), we hear about how God’s people began as a couple, who established a family, which grew into a group of 12 tribes, and then became a whole nation. God made an agreement with this nation, promising to bless them and bring blessings to the whole world through them, and calling them to live by God’s laws.
Initially, the nation was led by prophets and judges, whose role was to help apply the law, call for specific blessings, and remind the whole nation of their calling to live as God’s own people. The only king they had was God. However, it wasn’t long before the people demanded a human king of their own, just like all the surrounding nations had. This request was granted, and king after king ruled God’s people - sometimes well, and sometimes really badly, but always falling short of God’s vision of peace and justice.
Whenever things got really bad for the people of God, the prophets were there. They would remind the people of their history, their relationship with God, the promises of blessing and the commitments to live by God’s law. More than that, though, they kept speaking about a future hope. They said God was going to send a new king, one who would lead the people of all nations into renewed relationships with God and with each other, building a Kingdom of God where all would be welcomed and blessed.
This is the Kingdom of God announced by John the Baptist, the prophet who immediately proceeded the ministry of Jesus. Throughout his own ministry, Jesus taught people about this kingdom, both directly and through parables. Many of the things he did were also ways to enact that kingdom - the inclusion of outsiders, the sharing of food, the healing of sickness and forgiveness of sin.
Kingdom claims are also instrumental in Jesus’ crucifixion, which was partly justified by the challenge his kingship might represent to Roman rulers. Even now, Christians who speak about the Kingdom of God can find themselves at odds with the worldly authorities who have power over them. The Kingdom of God is not the same as any human nation or empire, because none of them have fully enacted the love, peace, and justice of God. Our calling as God’s people is to speak and act as Jesus did - teaching and inviting, loving and serving, building a community where the Kingdom of God breaks into the here and now - whilst also holding to the hope of that day when the Kingdom will be fully present, and peace and justice will flow freely.
Blessings,
Rev Lisa
As we all gather and stand upon Country, may we acknowledge and respect Gumbaynggirr Land and the thousands of years’ worth of both physical and spiritual connection to Country, culture and teachings embedded forever within these Lands.