Building Up The Kingdom

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B

Numbers 11: 25-29; 

James 5: 1-6; 

Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48

It's been an exciting week. Pope Francis has been here the past few days and everywhere you look, people are talking about it. It's all over the news and social media sites. Everyone, Catholic and non-catholic, is clamoring to hear what Francis is saying.

Francis speaks of loving God and each other. He talks about the sacredness of all life and the dignity and respect that it deserves. He advocates that everyone – everyone – is entitled a place to call home and the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families in safety and in peace. He wants us to be stewards and caregivers for each other and for the planet.

For those of us familiar with the gospel message and with catholic social teaching, these ideals are nothing new, but coming from Pope Francis, these words sound almost revolutionary. Why is that?

Jesus spoke on these same topics often. We call ourselves Christians – followers of Jesus the Christ – and yet these precepts and teachings have not become a driving force in our daily lives.

Why do we find it so easy to love and covet the material trappings of the world? Why do we find it so difficult to love and respect the people of the world with that same passion?

Pope Francis' time here has helped us to focus on these key themes of loving God and each other, caring for the poor and the aged, welcoming the immigrant and the refugee, and protecting those who are powerless to protect themselves. Francis is doing more than living out the gospel call. He is giving us the blueprint to building up the Kingdom of God.

Jesus often spoke of the Kingdom of God. Most people interpret this to mean Heaven – a place where we may go when this life is finished. But Jesus was adamant – the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is not someplace far away. It can be here! It can be now! We just need to build it up. But how do we do that?

A few years ago, my family was fortunate enough to volunteer and participate in constructing a Habitat For Humanity house. It was a great experience and I will gladly do it again. On Thursday morning when we arrived, there was only a foundation with a sub-floor. By Saturday evening when we left, the house was under roof with doors and windows. It was an amazing thing to witness. At one point during the process, I got a little annoyed with my wife. Everyone was working hard, it seemed, except her. She was chatting with Jewel, the lady whose house we were building. At the time, I felt that Susan wasn’t doing her fair share. Looking back on the event now, I realize how misguided those feelings were. For me and for many others, the Habitat for Humanity experience was an act of charity. For my wife Susan, it became so much more. We weren’t building a Habitat house, we were constructing a home for Jewel Neil and two children. For Susan, the experience was transformed from an act of charity into an action of love. That distinction makes all of the difference in the world. While charity is important – it is the relationship – the interaction with others – that becomes “kingdom building.”

There is one thing about this week and the Pope's visit that we should all keep in mind. Kingdom building is not an event. It should become an integral part of our daily lives. A week from now, when Francis is back at the Vatican and the newscasters have moved onto the next big story, our passion in building up the Kingdom needs to continue. How you ask? There are many ways. Come to the Stewardship dinner and sign up to serve in one of the many parish ministries. Work to solve some of our communal injustices by joining CLOUT. Be present, warm and attentive to all those you encounter.

Any of these options will serve you well in building up the kingdom.

But there is more. Jesus was revolutionary because he acted outside of the box in his time. He ate with sinners and tax collectors. He welcomed the sick and the afflicted. He spoke with women and loved children. He was not afraid to cross the ethnic and gender lines that his society had drawn. From this, we learn that it is OK to color outside of the lines. Be open to the possibility that the Holy Spirit is leading you in a non-traditional direction in building up the kingdom. People like Dorothy Day and Father Gregory Boyle have pioneered new and exciting ways of kingdom building. Perhaps the voice of God is guiding you down a different path. Be open to this possibility.

Kingdom building is hard work, but the rewards will far exceed the efforts.

Deacon Darryl J. Diemer

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 27, 2015