Kingdom of god Quote by Frederick Buechner
““People are prepared for everything except for the fact that beyond the darkness of their blindness there is a great light. They are prepared to go on breaking their backs plowing the same old field until the cows come home without seeing, until they stub their toes on it, that there is a treasure buried in that field rich enough to buy Texas. They are prepared for a God who strikes hard bargains but not for a God who gives as much for an hour’s work as for a day’s. They are prepared for a mustard-seed kingdom of God no bigger than the eye of a newt but not for the great banyan it becomes with birds in its branches singing Mozart. They are prepared for the potluck supper at First Presbyterian but not for the marriage supper of the Lamb, and when the bridegroom finally arrives at midnight with vine leaves in his hair, they turn up with their lamps to light him on his way all right only they have forgotten the oil to light them with and stand there with their big, bare, virginal feet glimmering faintly in the dark.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Great Light, 1995
People often prepare for hardships but overlook the profound, transformative blessings that require faith and humility.
In simple terms: We focus on struggle, missing deeper spiritual gifts.
Seek humility and openness to divine gifts.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- church service
- personal meditation
- community gathering
- life challenges
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you prepare for unseen blessings?
- What does “oil to light lamps” symbolize in your life?
The metaphorical language may be too abstract for practical application.