The New Testament often speaks of God’s Kingdom or of Kingdom of heavens, however, it is not easy to understand what it is. Fortunately, the Word of God enlightens us on this subject, and Jesus tries to explain to us how the Kingdom of God is prepared and established through parables.
19853 members
What is the Kingdom of God?
Jesus announces the Kingdom of God in the Gospels. For example, in the Gospel of Mark he tells us: “«The time has come: the Kingdom of God is near. Be converted and believe in the Good News.” (Mark 1:15)
In fact, Jesus taught us to invoke him through the Our Father prayer that he transmitted to his disciples: “Let your kingdom come“.
In this sense, the Kingdom of God is a reality; it is the good news of God for us! Let us keep in mind that, although the kingdom of God has not yet been established in the world in which we live, it is not far away either. To tell the truth, Jesus describes it as a hidden treasure that it is real: so real that we can even feel its signs and glimpse them.
Why should we seek the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God does not have large illuminated signs to identify it, but Jesus invites us to seek it as a priority:
“Seek first the Kingdom and its righteousness, and everything else will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
In fact, this quest doesn’t require any special skills, and it’s not the richest, the smartest, or the fastest who will find out. To tell the truth, only those who know how to let themselves be guided by the Holy Spirit will be able to reach the Kingdom, that is, we can only advance with an open heart.
“After all, the Kingdom of God is not a matter of food or drink, but of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
How do we enter the Kingdom of God?
Jesus warned us that it would not be so easy to enter the Kingdom of God because we need to renounce the laws of this world. In this regard, the Bible says: “Jesus answered him: “I tell you the truth, whoever is not reborn from on high cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).
Jesus also gives us some keys to reach him: humility, absolute dedication, attention to others and especially to the little ones…
Jesus even communicated to us the supreme law of this Kingdom, which if we apply it, will make us a blessed inhabitant of the father’s house:
“Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your spirit. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is similar to the first: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22; 37-39)
The parables of the Kingdom
Jesus referred to the Kingdom of God many times in the Gospels. Often, he did it through parables, so that only those who seek him in Spirit and in truth could understand them:
“«To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but not to them.” (Matthew 13:10)
Today’s Gospel – Dominicans
7342 members
Matthew 13:44-53
“44 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; a man finds it, hides it again, and overjoyed, he sells everything he owns and buys the field.
45. The Kingdom of Heaven is also like a merchant who dedicated himself to looking for fine pearls;
46 and finding one of great value, he went to sell everything he had and bought it.
47 The Kingdom of Heaven is also like a net that is thrown into the sea and collects all kinds of fish.
48 When it is full, the fishermen take it to the shore and, sitting down, collect the good things in baskets and throw away what is useless.
49 So it will be at the end of the world: angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,
50 to throw them into the fiery furnace. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 Did you understand all this? “Yes,” they replied.
52 Then he added: «Every scribe who has become a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a master of a house who draws from his reserves the new and the old».
53 When Jesus finished these parables he left there”
other parables
Jesus also described through his parables what the Father expects of us in order to be welcomed into his Kingdom.
For example, through the parable of the talents, we understand that we must make the gifts that God has given us bear fruit, putting them at the service of his Kingdom. We must also let the Word of God grow in us, so that it germinates and bears fruit, as Christ explains in the parable of the sower.
Secondly, the parable of the wedding o The parable of the ten virgins also helps us understand that we are invited, but not obligated, to share God’s happiness, and that this also requires that we prepare ourselves and take care of how we are going to present ourselves there.
Seek the Kingdom with !
Jesus invites us to seek first the Kingdom of heaven and leads us to it through his Word. We invite you to know the spiritual proposals of for nourish you each day of the Gospel.
For example, you can choose to discover the Gospel of the day through a written or audio meditation. You can also let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit to discover the treasures of the Kingdom in your life through this online community or through this prayer novena! Also, you can praise the Lord every day for his infinite grace and love in our lives through this online novena.
Come and seek the kingdom of God with !