THURSDAY HOMILY: The Kingdom of God is Among You. Called to Spread the Kingdom

11/15/2012

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which "in the full sail of the Lord's cross, by the breath of the Holy Spirit, navigates safely in this world." According to another image dear to the Church Fathers, she is prefigured by Noah's ark, which alone saves from the flood."(CCC #845)

We are called to live in the heart of the Church for the sake of the world. We are on a mission to bring the world, through Christ, into the New World of His Church, the seed and sign of the coming kingdom. Again, the Catechism expresses it wonderfully in passages such as these:

"To carry out the will of the Father Christ inaugurated the kingdom of heaven on earth." Now the Father's will is "to raise up men to share in his own divine life". He does this by gathering men around his Son Jesus Christ. This gathering is the Church, "on earth the seed and beginning of that kingdom".

"Christ stands at the heart of this gathering of men into the "family of God". By his word, through signs that manifest the reign of God, and by sending out his disciples, Jesus calls all people to come together around him. But above all in the great Paschal mystery - his death on the cross and his Resurrection - he would accomplish the coming of his kingdom. "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." Into this union with Christ all men are called. (CCC #541b,542)

"The kingdom of heaven was inaugurated on earth by Christ. "This kingdom shone out before men in the word, in the works and in the presence of Christ" (LG 5). The Church is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Its keys are entrusted to Peter. (CCC #567)

"Everyone is called to enter the kingdom. First announced to the children of Israel, this messianic kingdom is intended to accept men of all nations. To enter it, one must first accept Jesus' word: The word of the Lord is compared to a seed which is sown in a field; those who hear it with faith and are numbered among the little flock of Christ have truly received the kingdom. Then, by its own power, the seed sprouts and grows until the harvest." (CCC #543)

In Jesus Christ, the Kingdom has been inaugurated. Upon his retunr it will be made complete and fully mainfested in a new heaven and a new earth. We are members of the Body of Christ which makes it present here and now - as seed and sign for a world which is in labor. (See, Romans 8:22) We are a people sent on mission into that world waiting to be fully liberated from the bondage of sin.

Our mission is to bring men and women into the Body of the Savior which is the seed of His Kingdom. As with all seeds, it has the entire genetic composition of what it will be within it. The Kingdom will be manifested in its fullness when Jesus returns as King to "make all things new". (Rev. 21:5) Yet, it begins now - as we live our lives as its seed and sign in the Church on mission.

I conclude with another passage from the Catechism: "The whole Church is apostolic, in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin: and in that she is "sent out" into the whole world. All members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways. "The Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well." Indeed, we call an apostolate "every activity of the Mystical Body" that aims "to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth." (CCC#863)

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: kingdom, church, seed of the kingdom, parables of the kingdom, Year of Faith, new Evangelization, Living Faith, Born Again, Salvation, mission, missionary, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Anthony Coffey
6 months ago
A beautiful painting is displayed in a museum,

every day people quewed from dawn till dusk to view the work,

then one day a man came spraying acid on the painting,

when apprehended and asked to explain his evil action,

he replied: I HATE BEAUTY.

This short story gives some idea of what it must have been like

for Christ to come on Earth from Heaven, to save us from Hell.
AC
6 months ago
Although without Church approval yet, Our Lady at Medjugorje has been begging for more prayers for young people, parents and families so that they may know the peace of God and let that be spread to the whole world. As laity, we are called to 'leaven" the world, even politically; And yet, the world is in such unrest, our dear Lady of Peace has hopeful direction to bring the Lord's reign ever more present despite all the world's fears and unrest. { Plus, the ongoing apparitions have not been condemned either.}
Tom McGuire
6 months ago
Archbishop Luis Tagle, Philippines wrote: “All the research and preparation that we do to help us proclaim the Good News will be ineffective if our proclamation itself is not rooted in a real experience of and encounter with the Risen Lord. “

Unless one experiences an encounter with the risen Lord little in the Catechism makes sense. When the greatest witness of encountering the Risen Lord, ecclesial communion, is broken our witness if fragmentary and incomplete. How do we heal ecclesial communion?
Chris
6 months ago
It would be wonderful to see as much fire and passion in the comments section of the Homily pages as is displayed in the politically-charged offerings! Allow me to start. :)

The Gospel of Luke is a book filled with passion and fire, and I love him for it because of the way in which he recorded God's Word for us is particularly an appeal to our better, self-disciplined selves. Take chapter 12, verses 35-48. I think they make a nice companion to today's Gospel message, and, like the first reading and the response, there is a lot of talk about masters, slaves and responsibility.

You and I have been given a great gift, being able to seek a deeper devotion to God in one another's musings shared here. I look forward to hearing more faith-filled voices here.

I read this site frequently but this is the first time God so inspired courage in me to actually speak. I'm an infant in my understanding of our faith but I have gained so much from listening to my brothers and sisters that my cup will run over if I don't share here too! Thanks be to God. I love you all.
Robert Burford
6 months ago
Pope John Paul II instituted the Luminous mysteries of the rosary. The third is the proclamation that the Kingdom of God is at hand. I now see why the pope choose this to be added as a mystery of the rosary. Yes God is in charge and His Kingdom is here. Our country and world has a huge separation from God.The job of proclaiming the good news is in every age and the work will be done only when Jesus comes back in Glory.
Anthony Coffey
6 months ago
Many are led astray by the corrupt American Bible, [Saint Luke 17:21]

The Holy Vulgate account reads:

For lo, the Kingdom of God is within you.
abey
6 months ago
Where there is God there is His kingdom to the word Emanuel meaning God with us.The Kingdom of God is among you to dwell in you, come as the Covenant in the New Testament. Testament means Covenant again to the words "I will be your God & you my people" the offer that was once rejected by Israel at the time of Prophet Samuel leading to the eventual fall of Israel, has come in the regeneration open unto all of man, for his own sake.

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