Felicio Fernandes
Almost all spiritual traditions, like Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and others, believe in the presence of a divine spark or a Supreme Immortal Presence within each individual. This idea of "God within", the Atman, suggests that the source of true peace, love, and purpose resides within, in an "inner kingdom” and not in external circumstances.
Jesus says, “Indeed, the kingdom of God is within you”, (Luke 17:20–21). He is implying an internal spiritual reality and the idea that God reigns in each of us. Being aware of the kingdom of God within you is a tremendous realisation rather than a literal search for a deity. It means recognising the inherent divinity within oneself.
Resurrecting this divine presence in each one of us requires a spiritual awakening by cultivating an awareness of this inner divine presence, and living a life aligned with divine principles. This means rediscovering the divinity within oneself.
However, this is not enough as Jesus again reiterates that, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter” (Matthew 7:21). It means that the experience of this ‘Inner Kingdom’ has to manifest in our day to day living, in our relationships with our neighbours, in our acts of kindness and our compassion and understanding towards others.
Connecting with the “kingdom within” means resonating with love for our environment. This calls for a deeper understanding of one's connection to the universe. God commissions us to rule over the creation in a way that sustains, protects, and enhances His works. Conserving and respecting our natural resources can enhance our inner connection with God by fostering a sense of awe, wonder, and appreciation for His creation.
In the Christian context, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the belief and core of the faith. It signifies His victory over death. In the context of our daily lives, it would mean a rebirth or transformation, signifying a move to a deep and personal connection embracing one's true self.
We are often disconnected from God, from ourselves, and from each other. The fallout of this is the innumerable wars that we witness, the mindless, colossal destruction of our God given environment (Earth, Forests, Sea and Sky), the social injustices, hunger, diseases, deceitful living, cronyism, marginalization of certain sections of humanity and the list can go on endlessly.
To conclude, to resurrect the “the kingdom of God within you” would mean to realise the “indwelling presence” of this Living God and accept that I am an embodied spirit (and not just a material body) with vast capacities to do good for my neighbour and for the world in which I live. It would imply the recognition and acceptance of the interconnectedness that we humans share as brothers and sisters under His Fatherhood and that God is the creator and master of this gratuitously given universe which I must respect and sustain.
When you rest in the awareness of this “Inner Presence and resonate with its external manifestation”, you are resurrected.