Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readgins

One of the most decisive events in the history of the world was the gradual emergence of the nation-state. What I mean by that is that the political system existing in the world today based on geographical territories is a rather modern phenomenon. Before nation states existed there were multi-ethnic empires ruled by an emperor or a king. On the other hand, what defines a nation-sate is not ethnic majority or religious affiliation but rather a definite geographical boundary. In a nation-state like the United States, the State becomes an instrument of national unity, in economic, social and cultural life. It is based on a Constitution that determines rights and obligations, discipline and punishment. Peace is often enforced by armed civil authorities. There are seldom second chances offered to those who fail. One of the main characteristic of the nation-state is nationalistic patriotism which almost assumes the level of religion. Thus, heroism is associated with the ultimate sacrifice – death – to defend the boundaries of the nation. Armies are fashioned to defend each nation. The world spends close to three trillion dollar all together to defend itself from each other. Take for example the war in Iraq. It only makes sense when one sees the war as a defense of the nation. More than four thousand people have died in the defense of this nation. But the price is considered necessary for the continuous defense of a nation. Those who give up their lives are honored as heroes. So much for the nation-state... And then there is the kingdom of God. Mind you, it is not called a State but a “Kingdom.” It has no boundaries, no one has to spend a penny to defend it or kill anyone to protect it. It is based on God and certain core values that are associated with God as we know God in the scriptures. It is a kingdom where as today’s first reading suggests “might is the source of justice (Wis 12:16); where power is the source of mercy (Wis 12:18); where justice is the source of kindness (Wis 12:19b); and where hope comes from the fact that there is always a second chance (Wis 12:19c). And moreover, the source of justice, mercy, kindness and hope is a God who “cares for all (Wis 12:Wis 12:13),” whose mastery makes him lenient toward all, and who judges with clemency (Wis 12:18-19). From today’s readings, one can conclude that the Kingdom is about a God who deals with us with justice, mercy, kindness, and hope. There are other values too, particularly, peace and the foundation of all other values – love.

Let me take you a step ahead. Because the Kingdom is a divine reality it does not mean that it is an abstract reality. The kingdom exists as sure any nation state. The Kingdom is for real because Jesus is for real. If we want to see what the Kingdom looks like, all we have to do is look at Jesus and the way he lived his life in relation to God, himself, the poor, the powerful and family and friends. Jesus is the face of the Kingdom . That is why the very first words out of Jesus’ as he began his ministry were, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” In many ways, Jesus was talking about himself. He was talking about all that he stood for.

Let us take another forward. The Kingdom does not exist in a vacuum. The Kingdom exists in the heart of the human person . If the nation state is based on a geographical territory, the human heart is its most sacred space. The mustard seed that Jesus compares the Kingdom to in the gospel is sown in the human heart. Justice, mercy, kindness, love, peace and hope do not exist outside the human person. The human heart is where the Kingdom becomes a reality.

Let me offer three practical implications for today:

1. Let us Recognize the Kingdom . There are certain values on which the Kingdom of God is based on. Today’s readings ask us to focus on justice. There is something wrong about thousands of people finding themselves without employment or adequate insurance. There is something wrong when the people are not the focus of economic policies, but rather, when money rules the lives of people. There is something wrong about a person being treated differently because of his skin color. And peace is the fruit of justice. Wars will rage in the world till justice rises like the morning sun. Kindness and mercy come from recognizing that every human person is a sacrament of God. Hope comes from the knowledge that God dwells in our hearts. And underlying all these values of the Kingdom is the power of God's love. The only way I can know that I am part of the Kingdom is when justice, kindness, mercy, hope, peace and love define my life.

2. Let us be Open to the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is a divine reality. But the human heart is a human reality. As Jesus explains in the gospel reading, if the seed sown by God is the seed that God sows in us then the ground on which the seed is sowed in the human heart. The divine and human mingle in the human heart. That is why we find the good and the bad in us. That is why sometimes in our inner selves we experience selfishness instead of kindness, judgment instead of compassion and mercy, despair instead of hope, violence instead of peace and hatred instead of love. Today Christ invites us to be open to the Kingdom in our individual lives. This means that I must be radically open to, that I make a conscious effort to let justice, kindness, mercy, hope, love and peace prevail in me. The Kingdom is not going to happen somewhere out there. It has first to happen here.

3. Let us Build the Kingdom. Once the Kingdom is in us then, the power of God’s Kingdom will take us beyond the boundaries of the human heart. Like a mustard seed the Kingdom then becomes the largest of shrubs. The Kingdom must grow. Think of the Gandhis, the Martin Luther King Jrs, the Nelson Mandelas, the Mother Teresas, the Dorothy Stangs, the John Paul II’s of the world. Jesus looks at each of us today and gives us the mandate to build the Kingdom. Our families, our church, our parish must be the sign and experience of the Kingdom. It is our call to build the Kingdom wherever we are. It is our responsibility to take justice, kindness, mercy, hope, love and peace beyond our human heart to the ends of the earth.

In conclusion let me say this. The seed of the Kingdom will very soon be on this altar. Jesus will come to us in peace, love, justice, kindness, mercy and hope. As we receive Jesus in communion let us pledge allegiance to the Kingdom. Let our hearts be the sacred space where this seed can grow so that all the world will one day experience the power of the Kingdom. Amen.