"...Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
-Mark 1:14b-15, NRSV

As I sit at my computer to write this, ASU is back in full swing. Classes begin today. That means that the lines at the student union are longer, it's harder to ride a bicycle through campus at noon, and I have to wait a few extra minutes to turn left onto University when I leave the church. But those are only details. After seeming dead for a month, the campus seems alive again. The energy is unmistakable. It's the energy of students who are happy to see friends again, who have a class or two or three that they're excited about... more than anything, it's the energy of students who've caught up on their sleep, and who aren't behind (yet!).

Then again, maybe you're not so sure that you have any energy for the new semester. Maybe you'd hoped for a nice, relaxing break, but didn't get it. Maybe it was just too busy, or maybe everything went wrong. Maybe you're totally overwhelmed by the thought of beginning a new semester, and you're exhausted before you've sat through your first class. Or maybe you're somewhere in between... the break was fine, but you're not sure that you're ready to be back at it again.

However you're feeling, it is a time for beginning again.

At the beginning of Mark's gospel, Jesus spends some time getting baptized and being out in the wilderness, wrestling with his faith and all its demands. But the time comes when his ministry is to begin. And so it is that he comes to Galilee. I wonder what that was like. Was he calm, certain that everything was under control? Was he anxious? Frightened? Giddy with excitement? I don't know. But I remember all the different semesters I started, all the new jobs and new challenges, and I imagine that Jesus probably had a lot of the same feelings that we did at one point or another. Anyway, it's nice to know that we aren't alone. At any point in our lives, we can draw some strength from knowing that God's been where we are, and knows us better than we know ourselves. There: that's one thought to take with you into the new semester.

The second thought is this. When Jesus begins his ministry, he says something really striking. But first, let's look at what Jesus doesn't say. Jesus doesn't say: "hey -- I'm here to tell you that the Kingdom of God will come someday. So you better get your act together now, so you'll be ready." Imagine the anxiety that would bring! All of us worried about whether or not we're ready for God to come and be present in some new way... to me, that just sounds stressful. I'd hate to live my whole life wondering whether God's Kingdom was going to come or not.

What Jesus says is simple: the kingdom of God has come near. He says similar things elsewhere. 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" (Luke 17:20-21, NRSV).

There it is. The kingdom of God is among you. It could also be translated 'within you'. The point is clear: it is here, it is now. As you're beginning your new semester, remember that. And ask yourselves: what difference does it make? How will does it change your life to know that God's kingdom is here, within you, among you, now?

I hope you'll let me know what you're thinking about... it's a big question for all of us.

Peace,
Sara