The Kingdom at Hand

In today’s Gospel we see Jesus proclaiming and preaching around Galilee drawing a large crowd of followers. His message is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). We see that Jesus is now not only “curing every disease and illness among the people” (Mt 4:23), but he is now shifting the perspective of his message from the physical healing to the spiritual healing. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. A beautiful paradox of already but not yet, for we hear often from the pulpit that we are working together to build up the kingdom of God, yet, it is already at hand? This is one of the great mysteries of the Church not meant to puzzle us but to propel us toward a greater motivation to live out the life of the Church to her fullest; living the beatitudes, following the commandments, being Christ to one another. As Jesus goes through all of Judea preaching, we must be attentive to the words he speaks but also the actions he performs, for both are necessary for the kingdom of God to be built up and to be at hand. We are called to a state of repentance; this does not mean a single act of contrition, but a life of continual repentance for as creatures with a fallen nature we continue to fall away. The beauty of the resurrection and of the mercy of God is that we are always welcomed back into the communion of saints and the loving embrace of our Father in heaven.

Reflection: How can I build the kingdom of heaven today?

Lord God, thank you for today and everyday. Thank you for your love and mercy. Allow me Lord to have an open heart towards you, to give me the strength and courage to come before you in humility and repentance. Send forth your Spirit Lord that I may share the same mercy you show me to others I encounter today. I pray through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Resource:  http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010719.cfm