THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM OF GOD.
June 16, 2024.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – B.
“To what shall we compare the kingdom of God…? This is how
it is with the kingdom of God.”
A Bahaya proverb says: “We work on the surface; the depths
are a mystery.” A Tibetan proverb adds: “Sow good and you’ll reap good; sow bad
and you’ll reap bad. You don’t have to cut down a tree to get its fruit.”
The Kingdom of God, like a seed, is already planted in our
midst. It now requires our cooperation and collaboration to let it grow and
become a reality. It is an 'already there', and it is a 'yet to come'. The
mysterious side of the Kingdom is that it is not something far away to come but
something in our midst that we should cultivate and help to grow through our
actions.
There is a beautiful theological concept that springs from
today's liturgy. It is about the “already but not yet.” When speaking of the
Kingdom of God, Theologians, based on the Holy Scriptures, describe it as
“already but not yet.” The theological paradigmatic concept of “already but not
yet” holds that believers actively participate in the kingdom of God. However,
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. This concept
of the “already but not yet” is related to kingdom theology or inaugurated
eschatology.
In-depth, it speaks of God’s authority and right to rule.
That, in his authority, God has already established everything. His
kingdom is already in force in our midst. Nevertheless, “At present, we do not
yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while
was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor
because of the suffering of death” Heb 2:8-9. The kingdom will appear in its
fullness once we all become one with Christ and in Christ, as St. John states
in his letter, in 1 John 3:2.
The Catechism helps us to feel our need to cooperate for the
kingdom of God. And that is part of our petitions in saying the Lord's Prayer,
"Thy Kingdom comes on earth, as it is in heaven." The reality of
God's kindness points out God’s sovereignty and human collaboration. "God
is the sovereign master of his plan. But to carry it out he also makes use of
his creatures' co-operation. This use is not a sign of weakness, but rather a
token of almighty God's greatness and goodness. For God grants his creatures
not only their existence, but also the dignity of acting on their own, of being
causes and principles for each other, and thus of co-operating in the
accomplishment of his plan." CCC 306
The kingdom, like a plant, is sown by God, in his power, in
our hearts and lives. The readings point to vegetative elements. We hear about
trees, seeds, growth, grains, and fruits. It is so interesting to see how God's
Kingdom grows in our midst, from a little seed to a large tree that bears
fruits and produces shade.
Here is a reality commonly known to all. The tree springs
from a little seed. The Lord tells us in the Gospel that this is also how the
kingdom of God begins and develops in us. Though it is already among us, it is
not something ostensible. It is hidden, noiseless, not showy, simple but still
active and powerful.
Listening to the readings and the call to cooperate for the
coming of God's kingdom, the temptation comes to us to speak of how our
societies and our world could become the beginning or must become the
initiative point of the kingdom of God. Many people live today, building their
own individualistic kingdoms. They accumulate possessions, materials, and
treasures for themselves to the detriment of others. They live as if others do
not exist or exist only for their personal profits and interests. Even when
they try to do any good action, it is interested and self-oriented.
The parable of the tiny seed that turns into a huge and
productive tree reminds us of our simple and little good actions that can make
a great change.
As Christians, we collaborate on the coming of God's kingdom
through our actions and the concern we show to the needy. Every time that you
give a cup of water to the thirsty one, you sow a seed of God's kingdom. Every
time you give food to the hungry, you put a stone for the edification of the
kingdom. When you give clothes to the naked, visit the prisoner and the sick,
help with the education of a child or a youth, or do any form of charitable
work, you bring about God's kingdom.
In our works, in our positions in society, and in everything
we do, we should be mindful to bring about God's kingdom by acting with love.
We all cry about poverty and inequality or lack of justice in the world. We can make a difference by being ourselves models of love and social justice. Corruption kills our world. We should make a difference. Paul tells us that in whatever we do, either at work, at home, or in the Church, it should be to please the Lord. We should be mindful that we will be accountable for everything we do. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil." As Jesus himself states in Matthew 25:31-46, the Son of God will judge each one according to what he did or what he failed to do.
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