Supplement: What is the Kingdom of God?

 The phrase "Kingdom of God" (or "Kingdom of Heaven") is mentioned more than 120 times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  (In the Gospel of John it is referred to as "eternal life.")  

Being mentioned that many times, this subject must be a very important one in the preaching of Jesus.  In fact, it can be said that if Jesus were to write a Personal Mission Statement, it would be "to preach the Kingdom of God."

What is the Kingdom of God?  The Jews during Jesus’ times understood this in the literal sense, i.e. an era where such a benevolent and powerful king would reign that they would live a great life.  It would be the time when a Messiah would come, and Israel would be liberated from the oppression of the Romans.  It would be prosperous times, just like the time when David was king.  

Jesus, of course, was speaking of a “kingdom that is not of this world.”  For Jesus, the Kingdom of God is a condition (not a place) when God would reign in the lives and hearts of the people.  It is a condition when love, forgiveness, justice and peace become the prevailing values; and where the poor, sick, and marginalized are included in the mainstream and benefits of society.  

Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as “already here” but also as “not yet.”   The Israelites were of course puzzled because, for them, it cannot be here until the Messiah comes.  But Jesus meant that it is “already here” because the process of healing and transformation of the world has already started with his becoming one of us.  But it is “not yet” because the healing and transformation is not yet complete, and still on going.

Let me tell you a story that I came across about the Kingdom, as shared with me by a Maryknoll priest.  The priest invited four streetchildren to be interviewed in his class of seminarians.  For one hour, the seminarians asked the children about their lives: where they live, how they live, what do they eat, how they money, etc.  After the session, in thanksgiving, the priest gave each street child P 100, or P 400 totally.  He followed them to find out what they would do with the money.

He saw the kids go to a Dunkin Donut shop, buy P 400 worth of donuts, and then go back to the street where they hang out.  They laid all of the donuts on the street and invited all their friends to partake of the donuts.  

The priest told me later, "I think I just saw the essence of the Eucharist and got a glimpse of the Kingdom of God."  The kids who had so little gave whatever they had to others.  What a better place this world would be if the Kingdom of God prevailed.