🙏 Day 41: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done | Pilgrimage of Prayer | Bethany, Jerusalem

🙏 Day 41: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done | Pilgrimage of Prayer | Bethany, Jerusalem

Welcome to a place called Kiryat Yatim. This is a hillside about six miles to the west of Jerusalem. You can see it right behind me on the hilltop. You can see all of the new modern buildings. And so you can imagine how this looked at the time of David.

And right behind me, you can also make out the Arab village that we’re in, and it’s called Abu Ghosh. What makes Abu Ghosh well known is it’s a place where there’s a church the Crusaders built commemorating mass, because this is about the right distance away from Jerusalem.

But they wanted to just put a memorial place here, even though the real Hamas is certainly not this one. But what happened on this hilltop, but much before the crusaders. And the reason it’s called creating and Kareem, it actually means I think it’s called

It means the place of the forest or the hill of the forest or the town of the forest, actually. But there’s an amazing significance here. And you can even find this particular name in the Old Testament many times. So let me give you the history, history that they verified

In archeological excavations that they’re continuing to do on this mountaintop. So, first of all, you can read about it in Joshua. Remember Joshua came in with the ancient Israelites who had finally made it back to the Promised Land, and each of them was taking

A portion of what they were given for one of the tribes. And so one of the tribes was up here. I believe it was Benjamin. And what this was, was a Canaanite cultic center. What that means is they chose this hilltop to worship the Lord, which is very interesting.

And the archeology dates it all the way back to the eighth century B.C.. But let’s go to First Samuel, which is where we’re starting to hear all about this place. And it’s the people who brought the ark from Shiloh here. Why would they do this? Well, actually, they didn’t bring it here.

The Ark of the Covenant was taken from Shiloh and put into battle, but still a holy place. As you can hear from behind me. They’re starting their prayers right now. So, anyway, the people brought the ark out of Shiloh because they were they were in a war against the Philistines

And the Philistines were winning. And they said, well, let’s bring God among us. But it went so badly they didn’t pray about whether or not they should have done that. The ark was captured by the Philistines. The Philistines took it down to Ashdod and Ashkelon, where they had the temple to their God.

Dagan, I think, was his name. So what happened? Not only were many Israelites killed and they lost the Ark of the Covenant. What happened was the Philistines said, Well, our God must be stronger than theirs. Even though they knew everything that happened when the ancient, ancient Israelites came out of Egypt,

When they placed the ark in their temple, it says in Samuel that the idol of Dagon, they found it on the floor. The next day they put the ark, put the idol back up. The next day it was broken into and they said, Well,

We’re going to take this out of the temple of our God. And what they found is that people in the town started breaking out in terrible tumors. So they moved it to a different town. Tumors, another town. Tumors. I said, get rid of this thing.

Because if we don’t send this God back to the Israelites, we’re going to end up just like they ended up in Egypt. So it says in the Old Testament they hooked up a cart to to cows or oxes oxen, and they had them just start walking.

And the cattle ended up right over the hillside in a place called Beit Shemesh. If I’m not mistaken, I might be wrong on that name, but the thing is, they stop there. And so the people said, my gosh, look at this. Let’s tell the people here to take the Ark of the Covenant

Away from us because they were also afraid of it. So what’s really neat is you can read in the Old Testament it came to this hill, to the house of a been a dab, and they put in a man named Eli Azar as the guardian of the Ark. So here it was.

And it stayed here for 20 years. Now, back in Jerusalem, David had been crowned king and he was actually a man of prayer. God himself says that he was a man after his own heart. And so he wanted to fortify his kingdom, not just politically by making Jerusalem

His capital, but by bringing the center of all worship there. And so, of course, he said, we would like the Lord to be here among us. He came up here and he began dancing and praising with all the leaders of Israel,

Bringing it back to Jerusalem, where he had a tent made for it. What’s interesting is on the way down, somebody died because they touched the Ark of the Covenant and it’s because David was transporting it incorrectly. And he began to realize how much respect he needed to have for it.

In fact, for every few steps they would take, a sacrifice would be made until the Ark of the Covenant was taken into Jerusalem. A remarkable story. And it happened right here. And so this brings us to why the name of this place is actually Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant.

Well, I think many of you might already know this, but it’s worth reviewing the fact that early Christians called her the Ark of the Covenant, because what was inside of the Ark? The Ten Commandments. The road of Aaron Manor. But really, what was in the Ark of the Covenant,

The presence of the Lord himself. And if you think about what happened in the womb of the Virgin Mary, what was in her room, the word made flesh. The Lord himself. She was also the Ark of the Covenant. In fact, I wanted to read more from one of the fathers of the church.

This is actually a man named Saint Gregory Thomas Goff, who’s, even though that sounds like a Greek name, he was actually born in 213 and he lived in Rome. And this is what he says about Mary. The Ark is verily the Holy virgin, gilded within

And without, who receive the treasure of universal sanctification. And if you read more about that, he actually says she was gilded inside and out by the Holy Spirit who was in her. So let’s look at the parallels really quickly between the Ark of the Covenant and Mary. And these parallels

Are something that the Jewish people would have understood immediately. First of all, just really quickly, second, Samuel, six nine says, How can the ark come to me? They said that in various places when the Ark was here, especially David Luke one How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

That happened right over here is anchored in the hill country of Judea, where Mary came to visit Elizabeth. And Elizabeth says that how can the Lord, how can this be that the Lord comes to me? It’s almost exactly the same wording. Secondly and second, Samuel 614 David danced before the Lord

With all his might, wearing a white effort, it says, And if that is something that the priests wear. So look, one for 42, excuse me, 41 and 42, it says when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the baby, let in her womb for joy filled with the Holy Spirit.

And Elizabeth spoke out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women. So what’s significant about this? Well, John the Baptist obviously is a is of the priestly line of Aaron. Just as David was wearing the effort of a priest. So brings us there.

But more importantly, it’s this dancing, this joyous leaping. Before the ark, John the Baptist and David. So it comes together. And even the word that’s used for Elizabeth spoke out. Blessed are you among women. This word for spoke is used only once in the New Testament in that moment,

And it’s only used twice in the Old Testament. And it’s speaking always regarding the Ark of the Covenant. That’s unmistakable. And then we have in second Samuel 611. It says, the Ark remained in the house of Ovid, the Gita, for three weeks, and that is when they were bringing it up.

Well, when the Philistines sent it out, Right. And then after the guy who studied the Ark, when it was brought back to the ancient Israelites, died because he touched it. Well, this Ovid, actually, his household was blessed during those times. And so David was was encouraged to bring it actually into Jerusalem.

But anyway, so what does it say in Luke chapter one, verse 56 says, Mary remained with her about three months. The Ark remained here for three months. And bless the household. Mary remained for three months with Elizabeth, and that household was blessed until John the Baptist was born. So this is remarkable.

And finally, I think most of us know that the word for overshadow, which is used for the Holy Spirit coming upon Mary at the time of the Annunciation back in Nazareth is the same word that’s used for Exodus in chapter 43 to speak about God coming over, the people coming over the Ark.

His presence is there, overshadowing. So we see. That’s right. And this wasn’t just a place where it’s linked to the Old Testament. Of course, we do have a Byzantine church that was built here. It’s a place that’s always been related to the Ark of the Covenant.

And Mary is the Ark of the Covenant. And also in the 12th century, the Knights Hospitaler built another church here, very close in Abu Ghosh, which I talked about. And the church built on the site of the house of a builder. Dabb is this church right here on me. It’s amazing.

And so I couldn’t help but think that this is probably one of the best places where David dance before the artist to consolidate his kingdom, to speak about that second petition of the Our father. Thy kingdom come. So follow me so we can get a better look at the church.

So right in front of me is the capital city of David’s kingdom, Jerusalem. But behind me, what you see is a statue of Mary. She has Jesus in her arms. And of course, below her, she is standing on the Ark of the Covenant. You can tell because of the angels on either side.

And this just points to who she is, because Christians from the very beginning have called her the Ark of the Covenant. But we’re going to speak about in this place the Kingdom of God. And so if you think about the second petition of the our father. Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy kingdom come. As I mentioned, this place was so important for David because he from here, he brought the Lord making Jerusalem the spiritual capital of his kingdom. So what does this actually mean? Let’s talk about it briefly. Kingship. What is the word that’s used in the New Testament?

It’s the Greek word for basically. Yeah, basically. Yeah. It’s meaning if you talk about it in a noun, meaning sort of an abstract noun, it is kingship. It can also mean a concrete noun, which is kingdom, but it can also mean an action noun in the sense of rain.

So all of these things are encompassed in that second petition of the our father Saint Cyprian. Remember, he was a bishop of Carthage in the two hundreds. Well, he writes about the kingdom. He writes about the second petition saying it may be that the Kingdom of God means Christ himself.

David brought the Ark into Jerusalem. God’s presence himself. So Christ himself as a kingdom of God. That is a mouthful. That is a mouthful. So Mary is carrying the kingdom in her arms, in her womb. She’s caring the presence of the Lord, as are we.

So, Cyprian, it may be that the Kingdom of God means Christ himself, whom we daily desire to come daily, and whose coming we wish to be manifested quickly to us. For he is our resurrection, since in him we arise so he can also be understood as the Kingdom of God for in Him

We shall reign. So all of those meanings of Abbas Ilia I mean. C How does it bassi lear is encompassed in what Cyprian said and is encompassed in this petition? Thy kingdom come. Therefore, Kingdom of God that lies ahead of us. The kingdom that is brought mere by the word incarnate,

The kingdom that is proclaimed throughout the whole Gospel, the kingdom that has come in Christ’s death and resurrection, and the kingdom that is here also in the Eucharist. That’s why it’s so appropriate for this to be right on top of a church. Now, the second dimension of

Thy kingdom come is the word Maranatha. I’m sure we’ve heard that a lot. It’s a cry of the spirit and the bride. Come, Lord Jesus. You can read about that at the very end of the Book of Revelation. Maranatha It’s a cry for the kingdom.

It’s almost as if we’re seeing the second petition in one word, the second petition of the our father, the Christian author, Tertullian, that we’ve spoken about from Carthage actually says this. He says, even if it had not been prescribed to pray for the coming of the kingdom.

In other words, that the Lord told us to pray for this, even if it not been described, had not been described, we would willingly have brought forth this speech, eager to embrace our hope. There’s a reason the Bible ends with this word Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus, it’s our hope.

The second Coming is the fulfillment of salvation History, he continues. The martyrs under the altars cry out to the Lord their retribution, which means the last judgment. Of course Maranatha comes in, or their punishment for the crime of those who killed them. They were giving witness to the Lord.

But anyway, the martyrs under the altar cry out to the Lord. Their retribution is ordained for the end of the world. Indeed, as soon as possible. Lord, may your kingdom come. May your kingdom come. That everyone may come to know you. So, Maranatha, thy kingdom come in the Our father refers primarily

To this final coming of the reign of God through Christ’s return. And in a sense, I, you know, you can think maybe like this image behind us somehow Mary is going to be involved in that. She’s the representative of the human race in the Trinity at this point

Because of her ascension excuse me, her assumption into heaven. The Lord put her right where we are going to be. So thy kingdom come. This can’t distract us. Obviously, we know from the world and we’re called to have a mission in the world.

Some people have said in different moments in history that Christians just forget about this place and only focus on heaven. Well, that’s not true at all. We’re called to do everything we can. So his kingdom will come. The kingdom of justice and of love all around us. What am I doing?

We know that that’s the work of the Holy Spirit to bring the Kingdom and to bring us this fullness of grace. As Saint Paul says in Romans 14. The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the spirit.

So first of all, the kingdom come in my own hearts, joy, peace in the spirit. Now is the time when the Holy Spirit is being poured out on us. Absolutely. This is the end time. It’s the time of the Spirit. The spirit has come. Jesus himself sent the spirit. The first battle, though,

As Paul says, is the decisive battle between the flesh and the spirit. So within our hearts, but also it’s this battle in society at large. All of us desire peace. All of us desire that people are happy. All of us desire love. All of us desire justice.

And so again, like I mentioned, we need to let the spirit open our eyes to show us where we can help make sure that happens. In my little area, in my fit, in my life, in my family, in my workplace, in my city, in my country, and then in an international way.

This is what we’re called to do when we pray thy kingdom come. It’s the growth of the kingdom of God in the world, the progress of society. I can’t just sit here and be like, okay, well, they’re all right. They don’t need to know more about the Lord. they’re not completely well-developed.

They don’t know all the beautiful things. Are you kidding me? Christ kingdom come so that we can all be completely fulfilled. There’s not a separation between those two things. So thy kingdom come. Follow me to the front of the church now, and we’ll talk about the next petition

In the Our Father, which is very related to this one. And I think this place speaks to it very well. So follow me. As you can see, we’ve made our way here to the front of the church, and they’re doing a lot of construction reconstruction, actually

Waiting for each one of you to come on pilgrimage. This is, as I mentioned, a pilgrimage spot because of everything that it represents. You can see the title there in France, in French, the Virgin Mary, Ark of the Covenant. I hope you can see her

On the other side of the roof where we were standing just now. And of course, the cross in front and the beautiful mosaics. As I said, they’re restoring the inside of the church and actually uncovering those lovely mosaics, the mosaic that they found at the Byzantine church here.

So it gives you a sense of all the work that’s happening here in the Holy Land. Thanks be to God. But let’s jump into that third petition of the our father. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.

We say it every time we say to our father and we add on Earth as it is in heaven. So first of all, what is his will? Well, Saint Paul says to Timothy in his first letter, Our father deserves all our desires. I’m sorry.

Our father desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. His desire is his will. What does he desire? To have us with him forever. To be saved from our sins. To get over this conflict that we constantly have to be forever. This is his desire.

This is his will. Also in John’s gospel and also his first letter. He talks about his commandment. His commandment is that you love one another. What’s his will? That we’d love one another as he has loved us. Love one another. Even as I have loved you. Right. Saint John.

What else do we know about his will? Well, there’s wording reflected by Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, Ephesians one nine through 11, and it also gives us a window to that. He says he is made known to us, meaning the Lord.

He has made note to us the mystery of His will. Okay. According to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ to gather up all things in Him, things in heaven and things on Earth. Having been destined, we have obtained an inheritance. In other words, everlasting life as his sons and daughters.

That is our inheritance. But just listen to those words of Paul. Gather up all things in him, in heaven and on earth. This was a Saint Paul who was praying to our father. This was a Saint Paul who said the same thing that we say.

They will be done in on earth as it is in heaven. So he’s teaching these new Christians all about God’s will. All about that prayer here on Earth and in heaven. So we know that Jesus said in the Hebrews,

If you want to read about it, and Hebrews Chapter ten is where it’s recorded low. I have come to do your will. God, again. So that we can receive our inheritance as sons and daughters of God, adopted sons and daughters.

And this is why Jesus says to the Jesus says that He gave himself for our sins to deliver us up from the evil age. This is something that Paul is explaining to the Galatians. So this is God’s will. Now, something very important to think about when we’re talking about they will be done

Is to remember that Jesus himself, not only before he became incarnate as it says in the letter to the Hebrews, says, you know, I’ve come to do your will. But as he grew, it actually says he had to grow in obedience to his father’s will.

It says in Hebrews five, Chapter five, verse eight, Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. And again, he was the Son. How much more we need to learn obedience to the Father’s will? Our father is a prayer to God, asking the Father to write his will in our hearts and to unite

The son’s will to our will as adopted sons and daughters, to fulfill his will, his plan of salvation, not just for me, but for the life of the world. Because that was Jesus mission and that was the desire of the God, the Father. That’s the Lord’s will.

So again, do we pray for peace? Do we pray for justice? You bet we do. Every time we say the our father, we’re praying also for salvation, which is the ultimate peace and justice. So another bishop, we’ve quoted a lot to the bishop of Constantinople in the three hundreds.

He actually wrote about this when he was talking about the father. He says he commands each of the faithful who prays to do so universally. So Jesus doesn’t want us just to pray for us, but to pray for the whole world. He continues

To pray universally for the whole world, for he did not say, Thy will be done in me or even in us, but may his will be done on Earth. The whole earth, so that error may be banished from it. Truth take root in it

And all vice be destroyed on its virtue, flourish in it, and that earth no longer differ from heaven. Isn’t that amazing? It’s like heaven coming to earth on earth as it is in heaven. So the simple question always comes about when we’re talking about the will of God,

And that’s how to discern the will of God for me in my own actions. Well, Saint Paul in the Galatians actually makes it very clear it’s the fruits of the spirit. When I see those in my own heart and in my own life,

Or as Teresa would say, like this beautiful garden here in Kenya, they are in this beautiful sanctuary of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant. When I see fruits, when I see flowers, I’m doing God’s will. These are the fruits of the spirit. Who’s the one that is just breathing within us.

So to discern God’s will to take those first steps, not only do we have to look and see where the fruits and the flowers are, but actually it implies that I’ve prayed. I need to pray. That’s where. In a pilgrimage of prayer, isn’t it? John, Chapter nine. Well, the Gospel of John.

Chapter nine actually says if one is devout and does God does God’s will, God will listen to him. So this is important because one enters the kingdom of heaven not by speaking words, but by doing the will of the father in heaven. Matthew actually wrote that in his gospel. So prayer.

Do you want to be heard still as well? He can’t resist it because it means that our heart is like his heart and he only desires the full happiness of every single person on earth for all time. So let’s strive then to do his will

So that we can have his heart and really be taken up in Mary’s arms like Jesus. So as right here. Or do this before the Ark of the Covenant with great reverence and joy and dancing like David did when he brought it down from this mountaintop into Jerusalem.

So thank you for joining us here in this really kind of unique place, this beautiful place. And we hope you can join us again tomorrow on Tuesday of Holy Week. And God bless you. Whom?

📅 Day 41: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done
| March 25, 2024
🙏 Pilgrimage of Prayer | Magdala
📍 Bethany, Jerusalem

Welcome to Kiryat Yatim, an ancient hillside located just six miles west of Jerusalem. 🏞️ This historical site holds immense significance, both culturally and spiritually. From its origins as a Canaanite cultic center to its role in biblical narratives, Kiryat Yatim is steeped in rich history and tradition. 📜💫

Join us on a journey through time as we delve into the stories of the past, including the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant and the establishment of Jerusalem as a spiritual capital under the reign of King David. 🕊️⛪️

Discover why Kiryat Yatim is also known as Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant and explore the profound parallels between Mary and the Ark, as recognized by early Christians and theologians. 🙏🌹

As we stand amidst the ruins and relics of antiquity, let us reflect on the enduring legacy of faith and reverence that permeates this sacred hillside. 🌿✨

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Thank you to Matt Maher for allowing us to use his song, “The Lord’s Prayer” featuring TAYA

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© Copyright of New Gate to Peace Foundation 2024

💟 Help us to keep developing the Magdala Project. Your donation is essential to us🫶 https://bit.ly/magdala-donate

ℹ️ Discover more about Magdala 👉 https://bit.ly/magdala-en-yt

Support us by purchasing our products:
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© Copyright of New Gate to Peace Foundation 2024