Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. What hopeful, promising, and exhilarating words from our Lord, and yet mysterious, too. What is the Kingdom of Heaven, and what does it mean that it’s at hand? The phrase Kingdom of Heaven shows up 25 times in St Matthew’s Gospel, so it’s clearly an important concept in our understanding of discipleship. John the Baptist paved the way, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:1-2). Jesus began his ministry, preaching the exact same message (Matt. 4:17). Jesus describes the Kingdom to us in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-10) and through many of his parables. Sometimes those stories seem a little abstract and confusing. How do we translate them into practical action steps for our lives?
It sounds cliché, but I like to think of the Kingdom of Heaven as anywhere that Christ is King. And that’s everywhere! Or at least it should be . . . When we usher in God’s love, peace, mercy, justice, righteousness, forgiveness, grace, light, truth, we witness to Christ’s kingship and help to establish the Kingdom of Heaven right here and right now. Think with me about practical ways to demonstrate those virtues more and more in your workplace, in your home, in your school, in your neighborhood, in your family, as you work for social justice in our world, as you consider public policies and involve yourself in political processes, locally, regionally, or nationally. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand – made present, made manifest, embodied, brought to earth when we stand up for the poor, the marginalized, the abandoned, the lonely, the forgotten, the incarcerated, the lost, the infirm, our enemy.
Each Sunday during Mass, we pray our parish prayer. When we pray that we might more perfectly think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and act like Jesus, we are effectively praying that God’s Kingdom might be represented through our embodiment of it. Are those phrases ones that we take deeply to heart as we pray them each week? Many years ago, I adopted a prayer that I pray frequently, Jesus, come and reign from the throne of my life. I’m asking the King of Kings to establish his Kingdom through me; I’m asking him to be the Lord of Lords in every aspect of my life.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew tells us that Jesus called his twelve disciplesto him (verse 1) and then says, “these are the names of the twelve apostles” (verse 2). I find it interesting that both words, disciple and apostle, are used to describe Jesus’ inner circle. A disciple is a student, a learner, a mentee, and one who emulates a teacher or master. An apostle is a messenger, one who is sent on a specific mission. While we are not numbered among the twelve apostles, we are indeed both disciples and apostles – both followers of Jesus and ones sent out by him to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. Just as Jesus called the Twelve by name, discipled them, and sent them out, so he calls you by name, he calls me by name. Our daily lives become a response to this call, both in our growth in holiness as disciples and in our living out Christ’s specific call for each of our lives. Jesus equipped the Twelve and gave them authority to be Kingdom-agents in His Name – to drive away evil, to heal, to share Good News. Jesus gives us this very same power and authority through the Holy Spirit.
During this year’s Lenten Discipleship Retreat at IC, Fr. Satish shared a series of teachings on discipleship and the Kingdom. If you weren’t able to attend, I recommend you listen to the podcasts! Father said there are two aspects to our discipleship: to be with Jesus (to spend time with him) and to be sent forth. The entire Sermon on the Mount (Matt. Chs 5-7) form the “Disciples Creed,” showing us everything we need to know about how to live out our discipleship in practical, tangible ways. As humans, we seek many things in life, but Fr. Satish reminded us that as disciples we seek the Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven becomes a framework upon which we organize the totality of our lives. Through Jesus’ parables, he shows us how to live by showing us the Kingdom. Ultimately, Kingdom participants order their lives around love – love of God and love of neighbor. During the past year, as I evaluate situations and relationships in my life and make decisions, I’ve moved away from asking myself “what is the right thing to do?” to “what is the loving response?” The shift is from legalism to love; from right/wrong to right relationships. As my thoughts, words, and actions become more and more loving, others around me will see the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Join me today in praying to grow in love and to bring the Kingdom to earth.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done in our lives as it is in heaven. . . Amen!
- Elizabeth Wourms