Benedicamus Domino!
Throughout the gospels, most notably in the Gospel of St. Matthew, Christ refers again and again to The Kingdom of Heaven. This is rather a cryptic phrase and it is used in several different contexts. Usually, it refers to a different set of values to the one which prevails among us here on earth. In Heaven's Kingdom, the typical human ideals of power and authority are turned on their heads. Selfish men are punished and poor men are given high places. Faithfulness is rewarded, but it is rewarded equally, whether the person has been faithful to God for an hour or for many years. In sum, the first here on earth are usually the last in Heaven's Kingdom, and viceversa.
So, what is the Kingdom of Heaven? Well, it is said that this "kingdom" is within man, but it is also said that we must win it, as though it is not yet ours or we are not yet a part of it. In fact, one of the most difficult verses regarding our relationship to Heaven's Kingdom is Matthew 11:12: "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." What does this mean? If we look at the Kingdom of Heaven as being a physical realm, then this verse means that it allows itself to be taken. It does not defend itself against assaults from the outside, and only the violent will be able to take it or conquer it.
Of course, the Kingdom of Heaven is not a physical realm here on earth, nor I think can it be described as a place as such. It is actually a state of being, a way of relating to God and to mankind. It need not be a part of some vague afterlife either. It can be found on this side of the grave, if we look for it. It seeks to be conquered by us, to be made a part of us, and we can only let this happen by fighting against our fallen nature and even, to some extent, against the fallen world in which we find ourselves. I don't mean that we should sit in judgment of our neighbours. In fact, this would be contrary to the values presented as being integral to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, we should realize that the world and our superficial selves are in league against us. We are our own worst enemies, in some ways, because we seek to remain comfortable in our own skin, even when we know that something we are doing or thinking will do us more harm than good. I'm not talking about what we might call major sins here. I'm talking about anger, impatience, things which seem to be just a part of daily life.
Many modern teachers in the church have stated that all the prayer and fasting and spiritual reading we do is not going to help us if we cannot refrain from yelling at another driver in a trafic jam. We have to remember where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and we must use the tools we are given to stage an assault on Heaven's Kingdom, because the only walls surrounding it are those of our own making. Christ has, in a sense, already broken them down, but we must follow His path to realize this freedom within ourselves. The way is steep and stony, and the road is narrow, but it is straight, once we get our feet upon it, and always ahead of us is the light and freshness of true and dynamic potential, true and dynamic freedom from desires and passions so that our chief desire and our true passion for what life should be may be awakened. May God bless our steps!
Deo Gratias!
No comments:
Post a Comment