Homily February 1, 2026, Rev. Holly Cardone

Living in God’s Kingdom

4th Sunday after Epiphany

January 31, 2026

We are very far away from God’s kingdom. Regardless of the way you vote, your political affiliation, or view on immigration. Whether you like chocolate or strawberry, sweet or savory, vegetarian or carnivore, rom com or action, God’s kingdom does not include killing, torture, or torment. Period.

In God’s kingdom people do not go hungry.

In God’s kingdom you can marry whoever you want, if you’re a man you can wear a dress and if you’re a woman you can wear suit and if you don’t identify as either you can wear whatever you want, as long as you wear something.

In God’s kingdom everyone has what they need, meaningful work, a good education, affordable healthcare, the opportunity to become the people that God intends them to be.

God’s kingdom is a different world then the one we currently live in, and different than the one Jesus lived in. This is what Jesus said about the people of God’s kingdom:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This word we translate as blessed, in Greek is markarios. It doesn’t just mean mild happiness or quiet contentment. It means “an interior joy that becomes external elation translated into shouts, songs, acclamations.”  In first-century Palestine, just like today, the prevailing belief was this: if you were poor, meek, or hungry, something must be wrong with you. You were weak. You didn’t try hard enough. You didn’t hustle. You didn’t go after whatever “it” is that proves you matter.

And if you did have power, money, property, prestige—then surely you were the one who was makarios. Happy. Blessed. Winning. It would be elation and joy all the time.

The hard truth is that is not true. How many famous, powerful, wealthy people do we know who had everything and still felt like nothing? How many spiral into addiction, despair, and isolation because no matter how much they acquire, it is never enough? Because underneath the hunger for more—more money, more status, more attention, more stuff—is often a deeper hunger: the fear of not being enough.

They don’t need more possessions. They need more God.

Some folks might come from denominations that teach you have to earn all the “blessing of this life” money, property and prestige, and the only way to do that is be good. They often assume that if they are good and do everything right for Jesus, then they will be makarios—happy, blessed, joyful.

But the faith that Jesus teaches is a reversal of human values. Happiness is not attached to wealth, having a good reputation or having more power, money, or possessions. Jesus says, in fact, joy is the gift that poverty brings.

The people in power in our society, politicians, celebrities, tech bros and corporate CEOs who think they’ve won, haven’t. Unless our definition of winning is having more than you can ever use up in your lifetime, 10 times over. I don’t believe they are winning or will every win. They are filling a bottomless hole of need with the wrong thing.

They Beatitudes are a proclamation of the social, economic and political injustices that beset the Jewish people at a time of severe poverty. The first beatitude isn’t about being patient and humble. Jesus is talking about people being materially poor, whose spirits are crushed by deprivation. The kingdom of God sees the poor, knows the poor, and cares for the poor. For those of us who have more, being poor in Spirit is about finding our identity in a true relationship with God and not material possessions.

Families who have lost people in the violent lawlessness of the last year are comforted by the thousands of people who are taking to the streets shining light on their loss. Comforting them with their action, as they mourn their loss.

Those who inherit God’s kingdom are those who have been systemically left out of a structure that serves the rich and powerful. They recognize their lack of worldly power and tap into the power of God for good.

Those who lead with love, know God in every interaction and encounter with those they meet, and are living out God’s purpose and Jesus’s teaching.

They will know we are Christians by our love, by our acts of mercy, compassion and peace. They are filled with true joy and known as children of God.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to those whose relationship with God is life-giving, not fear-driven. Nurturing, not punishing. Liberating, not controlling.

And yes—

Blessed are the ones who take the hits for doing the right thing.

Blessed are the ones who stand between the vulnerable and the powerful.

Blessed are the ones who choose love when it would be easier to choose silence.

Because they are not just waiting for God’s kingdom someday.

They are already living inside it.

Amen.