To whom (or to what) do you give your allegiance?

Today's Lenten reflection from The Rev. Dr. Michael Battle of CREDO:

Bob Dylan sang,

"You're gonna have to serve somebody, It may be the devil or it may be the Lord. But you're gonna have to serve somebody..."

They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. --Mark 6:13.

When we talk about kingdoms there are many strange events; so, I want us to take seriously what it means to seek first God's kingdom rather than our own domestic kingdoms. To make a long story short, we must first seek God's kingdom--implying that none of us owns the monopoly of where such a kingdom exists. We must struggle to find it. We struggle to encounter God's kingdom in other people . . . in ourselves . . . in economics . . . in religion . . . etc. To find God's kingdom we must first confess that we don't quite know where it is, and in the same breath confess that we know exactly where it is.

One place where God's kingdom should surely be is in the church. Tomorrow, as we continue to move through the season of Lent, let us begin to talk a bit about common understandings of what the church means and then what God's Kingdom means. Then let's try to see the problems which often hinder our clear vision of both the church and God's kingdom. And finally, let us practice being a better church for the sake of God's kingdom.

Let us pray,
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations
and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.