The Pharisees asked Jesus about when the Reign of God will come. This is a question that we usually ask as well. But what is this kingdom? It is that the Lord will reign over the earth. All of us, believers or atheists, have waited for this day when we are all fully realized, satisfied in His presence.Their question is the same question we ask, “When is that truly the Lord will reign?
Man has always wanted something that would fill him positively, but has not always found the best situations.We even ask ourselves, “Where is God? When will He intervene? “
If the Word tells us that the Lord’s kingdom is coming, that means there is another kingdom that is not of God. Therefore it is important that we ask ourselves: “Whom do I follow? The Kingdom of God or the kingdom of the world? “. We run the risk of letting the Lord aside and to start following the kingdom of the world.
To know which kingdom we serve, we must understand the letter of St. Paul to Philemon. According to her, Onesimus was a slave to Philemon, but St Paul has recommended that he is seen no longer as a slave but as a brother. This letter will help us to understand the kingdom of this world and we are investigating whether the building or not.
The Kingdom of this world is selfish, is not charitable. It focuses on itself and makes others work only at their pleasure. For example, a married couple who are not building the kingdom of the world gets married to be happy, not to help build each other up.
“I had great consolation because of his charity.” The world has become increasingly less charitable. We focus on ourselves and do not have the courage to look for the fallen people on our side. In today’s world, there is a lack solidarity, because this kingdom is selfish.
If you are the type that works to get “stuff” and does “a favor” to someone in order to get something in return or to take the weight off your conscience, excuse me, but you’re building the kingdom of this world and not the kingdom of God.
We must look at each other like brothers and sisters and not as something else. Realize that the Kingdom of Heaven is built brick by brick. When I look at each other greedily, as if it was my slave and not as a brother, I’m contributing something to the world not the kingdom of the Lord.
Do I look upon the person who made me suffer as a brother? How squeamish! We always want to serve others. Start by taking your eyes off yourself and see that the other also suffers.
You as business man or woman, do you have the courage to look at your employees as brothers and not as slaves? This is the largest charity!
We are inflamed with the throwaway culture, before which we do not see each other as people but as “something” that can be useful to us. As with the social networks, people who pester us, we simply block off.
The building of the kingdom of this world is easy, but building the Kingdom of God is difficult. It’s easy to dismiss people who do us harm rather than living a process of welcoming them to build the Kingdom of God. Whom have I discarded?
God hears your prayers much more when it is done in a community that prays together. We can not live an individualistic faith, we can not make a divorce between faith and the life we lead.
Look at the example of Sister Dulce. Hearing the beautiful words of the woman are not enough if there is no love in your actions. Regardless of book you’ve written, the most beautiful is the book written with your life. Today, the words alone can deceive us.
About the Pharisees’ question to Jesus, the “when will the Kingdom of God,” the Lord answered them wondering if they are willing to build that Kingdom; and this is not ostentatious, it is not full of brightness or wealth.
There are many people creating needs, wanting to consume and consume, they have a lot of “luxury”, but not God. The Lord can not be bought with money, He wants your heart. The material things are not essential, what is essential is God.
One day in the presence of God is worth more than several days in this world. The Lord’s kingdom is not divided, do not have any pact with this world. If we are divided between what we see and do, we can not get to what Jesus calls us to in this Gospel.
original Portuguese transcription and adaptation: Rogéria Nair