The future is in the present: the “already and not yet” of the Kingdom.
November 17 2019: Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
A Chinese proverb says, “All the past died yesterday; the
future is born today.”
The Kingdom of God is a coming reality. Yet, it manifests
itself in the present. The Theologians speak of the already and not yet of
God’s kingdom. That concept of “already but not yet” holds that believers are
actively taking part in the kingdom of God, although the kingdom will not reach
its full expression until sometime in the future. We are “already” in the
kingdom, but we do “not yet” see it in its glory.
Christians are people of dual citizenship. While fully
living on earth, we have the obligation to contribute in building the Kingdom
of God. We say it clearly in the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come, Your will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6;10). Our longing for heaven does,
however, not disconnect us from this earth, this present age.
There is a beautiful apologetic writing, the Letter to
Diognetus, which speaking of the relation of Christians to the world, states, “Christians
are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or
customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange
dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life… And yet there is something
extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though
they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but
labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland,
but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like
others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share
their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not
governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they
are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that
transcends the law…”
Today’s liturgy comes as a great exhortation for us,
Christian, on how to live this present time. We are invited to long for the
future, the Kingdom of God while being well rooted and fully active in this
present age.
The first reading leads us into an expectation. We are told that
the future is near, “the day is coming” where “will arise the sun of justice
with its healing rays.” This assurance of the coming of a new day does not mean
that we should give up on this present. We cannot build the future without the
present.
Saint Paul will make it clear to us on the need of being
absolutely active in the present. He says, “if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among
you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of
others. Such people we instruct and urge
in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and to eat their own food.” It is not
because we long for God’s kingdom to come that we will consequently abandon the
earth. Laziness, in the words of Paul, is a gravious sin. The kingdom of God is
not a coronation of our idleness here on earth.
These says take in account all the dimensions of our life.
The Christian cannot dissociate himself from the destiny of the country where
he lives. It is said that the world is entrusted to all of us by God.
Therefore, because of our faith in God, we have a word to say when it touches to
social affairs, to politics, to economic and any other matter concerning the
city. Before being citizen of heaven, we are also citizen of earth. This earth
is our workshop. We must therefore make of it the foretaste of God’s kingdom.
The kingdom of God should first come on earth so that we will fully live it in
heaven.
Jesus in the Gospel speaks also of the future, of the days
which have to come. Nevertheless, the Lord warns his disciples whose concern
was to know when exactly will that be. He says, “See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do
not follow them! When you hear of wars
and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but
it will not immediately be the end.”
For sure, the end will come. But the present is to be lived
now, “Hic et Nunc” (here and now). We need to persevere in this present age,
building patiently the future, the heaven. The forever is possible only for he
who live consequently these passing realities. You dream of Paradise, prepare
it by working to the transformation of this earth. Because the Kingdom of God
starts here and now. The future hope of heaven is pulled into the here-and-now
and we are its ambassadors. We have full responsibilities regarding the earth
and our present cities. The destiny of the world is entrusted to you and me.
Whatever we will make of this world will tell us what will be God’s kingdom. Then
a question to finish, where will God’s kingdom be? The Kingdom of God is not
for later, for one after death. It
is in the today of everyone.
Lastly,
but not the least, another element Jesus talks about of the coming of the Lord
is the rising of false prophets and Messiah. We are at the pick of the
prophetism and Messianism today. Many
are the so-called men and women of God who have no other gospel than the end of
the world. Some call themselves Jesus, others super powerful men of God, others
again, appointed Sons of God or God Holy Spirit. They are so powerful that they
can even challenge natural forces and operate any kind of miracle. About them
the Lord warns his followers, “See that you not be deceived ... Do not follow
them!” The end will surely come, but not as they preach it. Yes,
Jesus is coming back soon! But in the meantime, Satan is not unemployed or
jobless. So, be careful.
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