'To Bless All Mankind' August 15, 2016 Issue

Home—the kingdom of heaven within

Allison Rose-Sonnesyn

Originally published in The Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2016.

The first refugee Olympic team, the topic of the article on the facing page, is an inspiration for stateless people everywhere. It has reminded me of my own earnest prayers about belonging. I remember one morning, when I stood by a lake in the Russian countryside far from home, I prayed to feel a sense of God’s presence with me there. My prayer was answered with this idea: “The kingdom of heaven has no borders.”

In that moment, I realized that I was not separated from God’s care or the true sense of home. My study of Christian Science had shown me that the kingdom of heaven is not a physical location, but God’s infinite and permanent rule of harmony, which can be experienced wherever we are. I saw that everyone has the ability to experience God’s goodness, love, and supply, here and now.

This realization was based on something Christ Jesus said: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21). He explained that the kingdom of heaven is the reign of harmony inherent to us as God’s beloved children. This means that God’s provision of good for us does not depend on national boundaries or ethnic identities. The kingdom of heaven is home to us all—to all the athletes and to each one of us—even those who may be far from their homes or countries of birth. This understanding enabled Jesus to bring comfort and healing to those throughout the many regions where he traveled.

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