Jesus preaches frequently about the Kingdom of God. Matthew in his Gospel changes it to the "Kingdom of Heaven" because of the Jewish practice of not saying God's name out loud. It has sometimes been translated from the Greek as the "Reign of God." Through the years I have come to think that what Jesus is talking about is that God lives in us and loves us graciously. The Kingdom is a relationship with God that deepens as each individual becomes more aware of God's loving embrace and surrenders to it in love. As individuals surrender to God's presence and love, God rules over more and more of humankind. In that way the Kingdom comes, God's reign expands.
God is present to me also in these flowers which we called "Mountain Laurel" when I was growing up. Now I am told that mountain laurel blooms in June and that this flower blooming now is rhododendron. We used that name only of the cultivated variety that bloomed in people's yards in June. The morning sun is making these blooms more vivid than I have ever noticed them.
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