Jesus and The Kingdom of God

Toward the beginning of the Gospel according to Luke as the people try to prevent Jesus from leaving Capernaum, he declares, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God…” (Luke 4:43).  The rest of this gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, also written by St. Luke, describes and testifies to the coming of this Kingdom.  Jesus’ parables tell what the coming of the Kingdom is like.  It resembles a tiny mustard seed that grows into a massive bird refuge (Luke 13:8).  At the same time it appears as a grand banquet which draws people from every corner of the earth (Luke 13:29).  Jesus inaugurates the Kingdom with his healings and exorcisms.  He tells the people, “…if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you”   (Luke 11:20).  The Acts of the Apostles relates the preaching of the Kingdom, now known to be one with Jesus Christ, to the whole world. 

The Kingdom of God is not territorial.  Rather it operates in the spiritual realm illuminating minds to what is true and urging hearts to do what is good.  This is Jesus’ meaning when he tells the Pharisees, “…behold, the Kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21).  It is especially accessible to the poor and the persecuted (Luke 6:20, 22).  The rich, on the other hand, will have a hard time accessing it (Luke 18:25).  It has no army to defend it, nor does it tax its citizens’ purses.  We can say that the Kingdom of God is a reign of justice, love, and peace that extends wherever humans respond to God’s grace.  We see it in the grandmother who stands near an abortion clinic offering assistance to the troubled women who pass that way.  We also perceive it in the businessman who at 11 a.m., one day every week, leaves his office to serve soup to the homeless at a local kitchen. 

Do I belong to the Kingdom of God?  This soul-searching question is worth a full Lent’s reflection.  But perhaps it should be restated: how can I more fully participate in God’s Kingdom?  Our answers should be along the lines of 1) leaving behind over-indulgence and injustice; 2) reaching out to others in reconciliation and care; and 3) asking God always for assistance.