"Your Kingdom Come"
Homily of November 24, 2002
by Fr. Gerry Murphy

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Last week, along with forty other priests from the diocese of Oakland, I spent a few days on retreat. Our retreat location was the very beautiful Villa Maria del Mar situated on the East Cliff Dr. in Santa Cruz, overlooking the pounding surf of the Pacific. From my room I could see and hear the relentless roaring waves as they crashed against the rocks and converged creamily on the sandy shore beneath my window. 'What a perfect location,' I thought to myself one evening, 'to have another conversation with my friend Jesus.' After all, I reflected, it has been a while since we last had a good chat, and secondly, I needed his help to try and figure out what this feast of Christ the King is all about - especially as it fell to me to preach on it over the weekend.

So, with that thought in mind, I sat down the following evening in the quiet of my room and had the following conversation with Jesus:

'Jesus, it's me again,' I tentatively began, 'and I'm just wondering if you could help me out. I've got to preach on the theme of your kingship next weekend and I'm not all that sure I fully understand what's it means. Could you possibly enlighten me?'

'Well sure,' Jesus instantly and tenderly replied. 'You know there were a lot of things my own disciples didn't quite get either, even though they were with me night and day. So don't feel so bad about your ignorance.' 'So,' he continued, 'what is it exactly about my kingship or the kingdom of God that you don't understand?'

'Well, that's just it' I said, 'the term "Kingdom of God" seems much too big and abstract a term for me to get my head around, even though these are words we use on a daily basis. For example, every time we pray the Our Father, we pray that your kingdom will come. What does that mean, Jesus?'

'It simply means,' Jesus began to explain, 'that I desire for all people on earth to live abundantly in the realm of my joy and peace.' 'And,' he continued, 'in order for this to happen, my spirit, my presence and my message must prevail over the way you live as a human community.'

'And how do we make that happen, Jesus?' I asked.

'You make it happen,' Jesus replied, 'when you live as a community of justice, as community of love and as a community of peace.'

'I see. . .and how do we do that, Jesus, so that our world truly reflects your kingdom vision?'

'Well, let's take the first component of my vision, a Community of Justice,' Jesus replied, 'and consider what that means.'

'By a Community of Justice I imagine a world where my people are forever mindful and aware of the little ones in their midst. By the little ones I mean the forsaken, the homeless, the imprisoned and the unloved. And I especially mean here the most vulnerable and voiceless in your world, like the unborn, the street children and the immigrant. I am radically present in these little ones and if you are a true Community of Justice you will make a special commitment to defend them and to compassionately respond to their needs. Remember that your life is both a gift and a responsibility. Your responsibility is to use what God has given you to help those in need. But let's now reflect on the second component of my kingdom vision, a Community of Love.'

'By a Community of Love I imagine a world where my people are filled with a deep sense of how much God loves them. It is a world where you let the love of God flood your hearts, your families, your schools and your workplaces. Because where God's love is allowed to breathe, miracles of healing and transformation will happen. My love already sustains every atom and molecule in the universe. Everything exists and is continually renewed in my love. When you understand that the very essence of your creator God is loving-kindness, and that you were created for communion with God, with one another and with all creation, then the Community of Love I envision for you, filled with healing and reconciliation, will take root and begin to flourish.'

'Wow! That's a beautiful vision, Jesus,' I remarked. 'And how does your Community of Peace idea fit into all of this?'

'I was just coming to that,' Jesus replied, 'so be patient!'

'Let's imagine it this way' he explained. 'A Community of Peace begins in the heart of every individual. When as an individual you are at peace with yourself, at home in your body and soul and free of any kind of violence to yourself, it is then that you can reach out in peace and non-violence to others. I envision a world at peace with itself in this way: it is a world where my people are friends, not enemies. Where my people are a people of honor, tall in spirit, and full of reverence for earth and each "other." It is a world where your weapons, your walls and your greeds are dismantled. Then there will be enough for all and the world will be safe again for children and living things.'

'Is that it, Jesus?' I asked, unsure if he had finished.

'Yes.' He replied. 'That's it for now my friend. Good night and sleep well.'