Jesus came among us to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. He insisted that we seek first “the Kingdom of God and His approval” (Matthew 6:33) because all good things flow from this. In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6) we cry out: “Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.” Thus, the Kingdom of God and doing God’s Will, are one in the same.

Jesus taught at length about the Kingdom of God in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6 and 7). This Kingdom is to be distinguished from the Kingdom of this world which is marred by sin and greed. The Lord’s Kingdom is no earthly kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom within you. There are two important components to the Kingdom of God: an internal and an external one. These two are interconnected because you can’t have one without the other. 

Let us deal with the internal component first.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5), Jesus outlines the internal qualities necessary to enter into His Kingdom. They are called the Beatitudes. These beautiful ways of behaving backtrack to the condition of the human heart. They are called Beatitudes because they are blessings, and are at the heart of Jesus’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount and they ensure that the right means be adopted in following Christ. It’s possible for someone to do the right thing but in the wrong way. A prime example of this is Jesus’s story of the Pharisee and the Publican who went up to the temple to pray. The Pharisee kept all the Commandments in the wrong way because he was self-righteous and judgmental and looked down on the Publican who he despised. The Publican, on the other hand, knew he was a sinner, saying, “Lord have Mercy on me a sinner.” He left the temple more justified than the Pharisee because of his humble attitude which we find in the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The Beatitudes challenge us to change our internal dispositions, to move away from self-righteousness and harsh judgments to cultivate a heart of purity, humility, peace, compassion, courage, mercy, and love. They invite us to let go of our pre-conceived notions and to see the world the way Christ sees it, to be filled with joy and peace, even in the face of persecution and to be peacemakers, spreading God’s love and hope to all those around us. If you want to appreciate a life based on the Beatitudes, look to the example of Jesus Himself who embodied them all. 

Let us now deal with the external aspects of the Kingdom of God. 

God’s Kingdom, though it resides within you, is not a kingdom divorced from everyday reality. We are called to be a light to the world by the performance of “good deeds” and by following the Golden Rule laid down in the Sermon on the Mount:  “Do unto others what you wish them to do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). The parable of The Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) emphasizes the importance of doing good deeds for those in need. The love that Jesus talks about is no pie in the sky feeling or sentimental mood or self-congratulatory lip service. It is the real thing and consists in  helping others: The sick, the lonely, the hungry, the stranger, the homeless, the jobless, and the needy in whatever form that takes. People will forget what you said, but they will never forget what you did for them when they were hurting or in need. By doing these good deeds of love, the Lord assures us, we will enter into His Kingdom.

Love is at the core of God’s Kingdom on earth. It comes in all shapes and sizes, and goes by many names: Kindness, decency, forgiveness, gentleness, graciousness, compassion, hospitality, and sharing. It consists in treating others with respect and dignity, and recognizing the inherent worth of every individual. It is about putting the needs of others ahead of your own, and extending yourself to meet those needs in whatever way you can. It manifests itself in small gestures and in grand gestures. What matters most is the attitude or disposition behind those gestures, whether great or small. 

Ultimately, your decision to put the Kingdom of God first in your life is a personal one that requires courage and the willingness to take risks. The reward of sharing the blessings of the Beatitudes and doing Good Deeds for others in need far outweigh any potential discomfort. By embracing the blessing of the Beatitudes within, and by reaching out to others through Good Deeds will bring joy to your life and create a more compassionate, understanding and connected world. 

—Fr. Hugh Duffy