Dave Brisbin | 11.4.18
When Jesus speaks of Kingdom, he’s not speaking of a place or a territory. He’s talking about us, all of us living a particular quality of being that translates into a particular quality of life—a habit of being. Some sociologists call any habitual way of being a habitus. But Jesus’ habit of being has a quality defined by presence, connection, the ability to see both the seen and unseen components of life—to see the overarching connection of everyone to everything and each other that is not apparent without this quality. It is a complete change of our way of perceiving the world and life and how we react to it. It’s a new way of living life that includes and transforms all our ingrained habits, skills, and attitudes—a new theory of everything that changes everything we experience. Jesus spends most of his teaching time describing this Kingdom habitus in terms of its effect on the quality of life it creates. It’s the only way it can be described at all.
When Jesus speaks of Kingdom, he’s not speaking of a place or a territory. He’s talking about us, all of us living a particular quality of being that translates into a particular quality of life—a habit of being. Some sociologists call any habitual way of being a habitus. But Jesus’ habit of being has a quality defined by presence, connection, the ability to see both the seen and unseen components of life—to see the overarching connection of everyone to everything and each other that is not apparent without this quality. It is a complete change of our way of perceiving the world and life and how we react to it. It’s a new way of living life that includes and transforms all our ingrained habits, skills, and attitudes—a new theory of everything that changes everything we experience. Jesus spends most of his teaching time describing this Kingdom habitus in terms of its effect on the quality of life it creates. It’s the only way it can be described at all.
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When we read the Beatitudes, the kingdom parables, and watch Jesus in action, we are seeing his habitus. And we are also seeing how he leads others to create their own habitus of Kingdom…how he heals, teaches, mentors, and serves—guiding those who are willing from imbalance and dysfunction to a platform from which they can see a new possibility for their lives. And for the students who are ready, the invitation to follow from passive learning to active engagement with him, and from there to turn and serve others themselves. Where are we along this path to Kingdom? What is the nature of our own habitus? How closely does it resemble Jesus’ in effect? And how ready are we as students for the next phase of our journey?
