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”The Kingdom of God is Among You“

December 4, 2025

Photo: Picture of a presentation by Paolo del Vecchio, MSW (Crisis Con, 2025

Wisdom 16:20-26| Psalm 118:14-21| Romans 6:1-11| Luke 17:20-21

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’

The kingdom of God is here: what good news! Better still – that the kingdom of God is not in “things that can be observed,” but rather, is “among us.” To me, this means the kingdom is not one of material splendor, nor is it elusive or distant. Instead, God’s kingdom is shared. It is felt, not bought – and it is felt in community. That idea – the concept of “being in community” – gained new meaning and renewed popularity this year. To me, that phrase suggests you are not simply a member of a community (a noun), but you are actively, presently, in community. Community in this sense becomes a living, breathing thing into which we enter mindfully and intentionally. To be in community is to be transformed, and to experience a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s about trust, honest and loving engagement, camaraderie, shared struggle (which is eased), and shared joy (which is multiplied). In a fiercely individualistic society, it’s perhaps a radical thing to be in community – and to find the kingdom of God among us, as Jesus proved possible. Surely, Jesus was in community with his disciples. 

I’ve felt the transformative power of being in community many times this year. In each of these moments, I felt uplifted by the collective strength, wisdom, and love of those around me.  I witnessed that power at the Rhode Island State Council of Churches Heroes of Faith event, listening to Tito Rodriguez celebrate the power of inclusive, just communities; the power of shared identity and culture; and the power of courageous leaders who drive communities forward. I felt that power working in a non-profit, and in gathering with advocates, volunteers, and public servants, as we found resilience in the face of unprecedented challenges. I saw that power as we formed Love+Action, a new ministry that will engage in relationship-building, education, and advocacy regarding issues of peace and justice, rooted in values of love and mercy. I appreciated that power when I attended “Crisis Con” for the first time and realized that through dedication, collaboration, imagination, and skill we can transform despair into hope and possibility. [For those wondering: “Crisis Con” is a national conference, communal gathering, and all-out nerd fest for high-intensity, dark-humored, coffee-and-adrenaline fueled mental health practitioners whose daily work centers around treating mental health and substance use acute crises. Yes, most days I meet all of those descriptors – and yes, Crisis Con was my happy place.] 

I also talked with my family about this scripture in preparation for this blog. My daughter Alexa, who’s 7, says Jesus meant that the kingdom of God is “not about presents…but about kindness and love.” My husband Mike says “we’re not waiting for something better to come. It requires our active participation: if it’s within us, and we cannot observe it, then we need to make it so,” suggesting responsibility and agency on our part to help fully realize the kingdom of God. Michael, who’s 3, says “God made people. God is around us.” He says that makes him feel “better,” and added, “is God a superhero?” (answer: yes). As we talked through this scripture as a family, I realized how readily we could all grasp – regardless of our age – what it means that God’s kingdom is among us. While we can all appreciate the idea, the challenge is how to turn the idea into committed action. Our opportunity this advent (and beyond) is to live fully into our understanding, appreciating and honoring God’s kingdom in our own unique ways.

Katie Anderson