Working Toward the Kingdom
Working toward the Kingdom means actively building God's reign of love, justice, and peace on earth through daily actions, prayer, and service. It involves living according to the Gospel, performing works of charity, and dedicating everyday tasks to God's glory. This mission, rooted in baptism, is built in the heart and in the community.
Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6: 7-9)
After reading God’s word, we should always take the time to reflect on how to apply its message to our daily life. Considering the verse from Galatians, we might first ask what kind of work we should be doing. If we come to realize that we are made with special talents and a purpose, and we discover who we are and the gifts God has specifically given us, we should not hesitate to nurture our talents and give back by using our gifts. In the course of using our gifts to build up the Church, we likewise build up the Kingdom of God on earth. In so doing, we travel with the pilgrim Church on its journey to the perfection and fulfilment of the Kingdom of God in heaven.
The Kingdom of God is not something that simply “happens.” Christ came to announce that the Kingdom was “at hand” and to establish it on earth, but it continues to be a work-in-progress. He established his Church to carry on the mission of proclaiming the Kingdom to all people and thereby gradually bringing it to completion, even though the Kingdom will not be perfected until the end of time. We who make up the Church, the people of God, are called to pray and work toward the fulfillment of this Kingdom. The Church “is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Her keys are entrusted to Peter.”
CCC 567: “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" The Church is the seed and beginning of this kingdom. Its keys are entrusted to Peter.”
The characteristics and demands of this Kingdom are progressively revealed by Jesus himself through his words, his works and his own self, as explained by St. John Paul II.
The kingdom of God is meant for all mankind, and all people are called to become members of it. To emphasize this fact, Jesus drew especially near to those on the margins of society, and showed them special favor in announcing the Good News. At the beginning of his ministry he proclaimed that he was “anointed…to preach good news to the poor”. To all who are victims of rejection and contempt Jesus declares: “Blessed are you poor”. What is more, he enables such individuals to experience liberation even now, by being close to them, going to eat in their homes, treating them as equals and friends, and making them feel loved by God, thus revealing his tender care for the needy and for sinners. (1990 encyclical Redemptoris Missio, 14) (On the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate).
Even though the Kingdom is in our midst, its presence calls upon us to act in response. It is not something to be received passively. Christ tells us we must seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness. Aware that many of his believers assumed that the Kingdom of God of which he spoke was going to appear in it fulness immediately, Christ told a parable about the three stewards who were entrusted with their master’s riches until his return, and of their obligation to invest his wealth and cause it to grow – a clear metaphor for the obligation of the faithful disciple to advance the cause of the Kingdom on earth. That reality is reflected every time we pray the Out Father in the simple petition, “Thy kingdom come.”
Jesus’ main message was that the Kingdom of God—defined as God’s active, saving rule and authority—had arrived on earth through his ministry. He taught that this kingdom was not a physical location but a present reality requiring repentance, faith, and a transformation of heart to experience God’s reign.
—Deacon Gerry Flamm
“Dear children! Pray with me for a new life for all of you. In your hearts , little children, you know what needs to be changed. Return to God and His Commandments, so that the Holy Spirit may change your lives and the face of this earth, which is in need of renewal in the Spirit. Little children, be prayer for all those who do not pray; be joy for all those who do not see the way out; be carriers of light in the darkness of this peaceless time. Pray and seek the help and protection of the saints so that you also could yearn for Heaven and heavenly realities. I am with you and am protecting and blessing all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
