Here, but Not Yet. 33rd Sunday

Today we are reminded that it is not so much about us getting to heaven as it is heaven coming to us. We must never forget that we were taught by the Lord himself to pray daily “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” Clearly we are to wait patiently, yet in sure expectation, for coming reign of God.

 Time is a funny slippery thing. For us it simultaneously embraces a past, a momentarily present and an unclear future.

But, there is more mystery to this. In the Incarnation (God coming into the world), our time (past, present and future) has somehow been fulfilled. The healing and teaching of Jesus reveals this.

Yet, time’s fulfillment is still coming. Jesus himself spoke often about the abundant harvest to come, the extravagant growth hidden within the mustard seed, or the unexpected coming of the bridegroom.

 We are locked into time as a linear historical reality, but the coming Kingdom of God is a divine future, a transcendent reality. It has been truly inaugurated in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and yet, it is still coming. This “here and not yet” is a wonderous reality beyond us.

 No idea or word can fully capture it. We can only imagine and describe by metaphor and analogy the incomprehensible transcendence of the Kingdom of God. Its Graces and blessings already overwhelms the ordinary and its coming can only be described as Apocalyptic because it will radically transform the world reality which to us seems so unchangeable.

 In the first reading God reveals, through the prophet Daniel that the world of nations and princes will be confronted, defeated and judged.

To their surprise, diminishers, liars, murders and oppressors will be found guilty. They shall suffer in darkness an everlasting horror and disgrace.

But, the truth tellers and the poor and oppressed shall escape what is coming. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever” Daniel says.

The blessed who are; merciful, peaceful, mournful, hungry, pure hearted, persecuted shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament. They shall be like the stars forever.

This is what time fulfilled looks like. This is the Kingdom of God.

Still, the world-spirit is tenacious and fights a fierce battle to retain its tyranny over creation and all who dwell within.

In those days (past, present and future) the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

The storm and stress of our disordered human condition and the relentless corruption of creation is played out on a cosmic scale.

The old heaven and the old earth will not go easy, yet the new heaven and the new earth is unstoppable. God cannot be denied. Darkness will bow to the light as the good, in the great and the small, in many shapes and forms, will prevail over every sin and every evil. All of creation will be healed and then transformed as the Kingdom comes into being.

And the Kingdom of God first comes as a person, the Son of Man. This loving servant who suffered at the hands of others who did not love him, who poured out his life for the life of the world, and who will come again in power and glory to judge the living and the dead. He will send his spirit upon the world to gather and bind together those who do love him and follow his commandments.

But, when we cry out?

Look around. See the signs of the time. Feel the wind blow, what direction does it come?

Jesus says learn from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it sprouts leaves you know summer is near. The dark winter of a world wounded deeply by sin will not prevail. Nor will evil continue to flourish for this winter will end, as all winters do.

 Jesus says this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. This is a temporal mystery, but it seems (to me) that this generation is creation itself, the history of human kind.  This “new thing” will happen in the time of creation.

 And remember creation has always waited patiently for its final preordained consummation into the Kingdom. When God may be all in all, as St Paul says.

All who love and who have love and who will love God and neighbor will be rewarded. Those who have suffered needlessly at the hands of others will be rewarded. Those who have looked for God will find him. Those who do not seek God, what will they find instead?

 So pounder this - what is transient, by its very nature will pass away. Our time is like a line drawn on water, gone before we are finished drawing it. It is already fading away. But, Jesus (the Word of God), who ushered in the Kingdom, will never pass away.

Look at each other - for us (now) the kingdom looks like the presence of God in Christ within a Spirit driven community of self-sacrificing love.

 But, on that day when the Kingdom is fulfilled it might look to us like, to paraphrase the prophet Ezekiel

I, says the Lord, your God, will gather you from creation and bring you into my Kingdom.

I will sprinkle clean water over you to make you clean.

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit so that you walk in my love,

and keep within you (forever and ever) all I have taught you.