THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND US
It
is our custom to take down our Christmas decorations after the Feast of
Epiphany. We prepared so long for Christmas and celebrated it so much
that our human nature urges us to go “back to normal.” Life, after all,
does not consist of a continuous celebration and feasting. Work has to
resume. But the Church continues to reflect on the mystery of the Son of
God becoming one of us. Who is He who was born in Bethlehem in poverty
and humility? Why did God become man?
Today’s Gospel passage speaks of Jesus who has grown up and leaves
Nazareth to begin His public ministry in Galilee. Galilee was a
Palestinian province in the north of the land, surrounded by pagan
countries. Matthew also tells us that Jesus did not come into this world
for an exclusive group of people, the Jews, but that He came for all
humanity. Matthew sets the stage for Jesus’ last words in his gospel:
“Go, make disciples of all nations…”
Who is Jesus? Matthew tells us: “He is the Son of God who wants to
reconcile all of sinful humanity with God.” But He will not do this
alone; He needs our cooperation, as Matthew summarized the preaching of
Jesus in a few words: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
By dying on the cross, Jesus did the main part in our reconciliation
with God. But we have to do our part — that is, turn away from sin and
do what Jesus tells us. The Kingdom of heaven is not just in the
afterlife. It has been established on earth and it will grow in the
hearts of those who follow Jesus’ teachings in daily life. But the
Kingdom of God will only be fully established at the end of time, when
God will win His final victory over Satan. But Jesus wants us to prepare
for this moment and expand the Kingdom as much as possible already in
our time. For the more the Kingdom grows in this world, the more the
forces of evil
will be pushed aside.
When we see evil proliferating in our world, could it be that not
enough followers of Christ live out Christian values and practice what
Jesus taught? We only have ourselves to blame. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD
REFLECTION
QUESTION: Are you aware that by changing your life you can contribute
so much in spreading the Kingdom of God and counteract evil in the
world?
Lord,
You came to establish the Kingdom of God in this world. Help me to do
my share in spreading Your Kingdom by turning away from my sinful ways
and following Your precepts.
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