Have you ever thought how important the concept of context is in our daily lives? The exact same words or situation can result in wildly different reactions within us, depending on the context of our experiencing them. For example, envision two students in a class, one who has been diligently keeping up with his studies, completing all the homework, and doing his best to master his subject. Now imagine the other has been slacking in school, ignoring his reading, and putting in the barest efforts at his class. How would both of these students react to the teacher saying, “There’s a surprise test today!”
This came to mind as I reflected on today’s readings, especially today’s Gospel selection from Matthew. There, Jesus tells his Twelve Apostles:
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”
Though it’s just seven words – “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” – there’s an awful lot to unpack in that proclamation. Obviously, at the time that Jesus walked the Earth, the gap between Heaven and Earth had never been closer, with Christ serving as the bridge from this world to the next.
There was, of course, a varied reaction to that truth. Those who were most downtrodden found much to rejoice in that proclamation, and it built the foundation of a Church that still spreads the truth today. Contrariwise, those whose world views were bolstered by an eternal divide between Heaven and humanity were obviously threatened by Jesus’ message, and sought to silence it – ultimately, through death on a cross.
But that proclamation also informed people that the day of God’s judgment would be coming . . . soon. And Jesus speaks elsewhere about the need to ensure that one’s affairs are in order, lest the time of God’s judgment catch one unaware. While we should never be complacent, someone who has tried to live by the words and deeds of Christ will clearly be more comfortable than someone who has continued to stray far afield morally, yet still recognizes the uncomfortable truth of an eventual judgment day.
Of course, even the idea of “soon” can have very different ideas to God compared to humanity. As the Second Letter of Peter says, Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come [to] scoff, living according to their own desires and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? . . .’ But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.” (2 Peter 3: 3-4, 8) And this idea is repeated elsewhere, such as Psalm 90:4 – “A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday.”
Still, we shouldn’t be complacent that the time of the Kingdom of heaven is far off . . . especially since our own times on this world are so fleeting. Once we die, we aren’t able to change our hearts and minds to ready ourselves for the Kingdom; the best that the ill-prepared can hope for is the mercy and power of God to purify us in Purgatory. Yet our goal is not to live good-enough lives to eke our way into Purgatory; it’s to prepare ourselves fully and completely so that we become saints in heaven, so that we can continue to love and serve God in the hereafter.
Today, then, put yourself in the shoes of those who were approached by the Apostles nearly two thousand years ago. How does that proclamation – “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand” – make you feel? Are you too tied to the mortal realm that you’re uncomfortable with the notion of it ending? Do you feel farther from God than you think you should be? Are there difficult, concrete actions that you’ve been avoiding to more fully prepare yourself for the Kingdom? Are there loved ones in your life who you wish would also find the Kingdom, who might benefit from your council or insight?
Like the students in the story I opened with, we are all – in a way – students of life itself. We know we will all one day be tested, and we know that failure is a definite possibility. None of us should wait for the last minute to “study” to make ourselves ready . . . especially when the stakes are so high, and the rewards are so great. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!
