Already But Not Yet
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is like a “treasure buried in a field,” a “pearl of great price” or like a “net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind.” The reference to a treasure or a priceless pearl emphasizes the importance of the Kingdom and the necessity of desiring to be a citizen of such a kingdom. The comparison to casting a net that hauls in all sorts of fish refers to the broad invitation to the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not for just one race or people, but all are invited to become members of God’s Kingdom. Sadly, many will reject the invitation.
The first step in bringing about the Kingdom is the realization and submission to God’s sovereignty over mankind. God is God and we are not. Having that foundational understanding in place is essential for the Kingdom to be realized in one’s life. Thus, it is critical that we discern well God’s will and strive to live in accord with it.
The Kingdom is no private matter, but a communal calling. God’s Kingdom is to be a gathering together of people desiring to place their lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and submit their gifts and talents to His divine grace so that His purposes for the lives of individuals and the whole of creation are realized.
The Kingdom is an “already, but not yet” reality. That is to say that it already started, in a sense, in the Old Testament with the People of God, the Jews. God first revealed Himself to them so that, through the Jews, the rest of the world might come to know the One True God. Jesus explicitly inaugurated the Kingdom in His ministry, preaching and through His cross and resurrection, so it has already begun to be realized. However, the Kingdom is not yet fully realized and will not be so until the Lord Jesus returns in glory to bring all thing into submission to the Father.
Lastly the Kingdom of God is both a heavenly and an earthly reality. Its foundation is of God and the Divine King now sits at the Father’s right hand in heaven, but the Kingdom is unfolding on earth in the age of the Church and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Even in a world that seems so crazy right now, God is still in charge. For “we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
