The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are two phrases used in the gospels to describe the same thing: the fulfillment of God’s will on earth. The phrase “Kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books. The “Kingdom of Heaven” occurs 32 times, and only in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus, however, uses both phrases interchangeably when speaking to the rich young man (Matthew 19: 23), making no distinction between them.

Jesus offers several parables dealing with different aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth. He offers images of pearls and hidden treasures to stress the importance of his Kingdom. In the parable of the fisherman’s net, the catch of fish is not perfect, so we learn the lesson that His Kingdom on Earth is a mixed bag, and that we all have to work to root out those things in our lives that hinder us from following His message. The parable of the rich man dressed in “purple garments and fine linen” (Luke 16:19) points to the unimportance of wealth and possessions when it comes to loving God and our neighbor. This parable highlights the crucial importance of living an authentic life based on the love of God and our fellow man. Jesus talks about the sower of seeds in the ground when he wants to describe the effects of the Word of God in people’s lives. He talks about the mustard seed and the yeast when he wants to illustrate the growth of His Kingdom both in terms of numbers and quality. 

These parables are stories, but they are stories about the reign of God in our lives. They are for people of good will who yearn for God’s spiritual kingdom in their lives, and how to enter into it. They are for those who suddenly come upon the kingdom, recognize it, and are welcomed into it. They are for those who have abandoned His kingdom through human weakness but, like the prodigal son, are welcomed back into it, and are forgiven unconditionally.

This kingdom, Jesus explains, is within you. It begins with an inner change of attitude by putting on the eight Beatitudes which backtrack to the condition of the human heart. This kingdom also manifests itself openly in the things we do to help one another. The parable of the final judgement spells out in graphic detail the things we need to do to be part of His Kingdom. We need to do unto others what we would wish them to do unto us, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, taking care of the sick, providing shelter to the homeless, and clothing the naked. These are all visible signs of the Kingdom of Heaven among us. 

Some of Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom are very brief, some are lengthy, and some are more complex. But all of them are about redeeming human nature, and entering into true and lasting relationships with our Father in Heaven and with one another. All of Jesus’ parables are as immediate and touching as the evening news. Not only does Jesus speak directly to us and make us part of the story. He demands that we provide the ending.

The ending is what really counts and it’s up to each one of us to provide it. We do this when we take the message of each parable to heart and put it into practice. This is how the kingdom of heaven comes down to earth. This is how we fulfill God’s will on earth.  

—Fr. Hugh Duffy