Jesus
told many parables about the kingdom of heaven. These parables reveal as
much about who the members are and how the kingdom comes about as they reveal about
God. In a passage from Matthew’s gospel, for example, Jesus compares the
kingdom first to a treasure buried in a field, then to a merchant who finds a
valuable pearl, and lastly, to a fisherman who catches fish of all kinds from
the sea.
This
three-part story reveals the kingdom of heaven not only as a process initiated
by God and brought to fruition by others.
It also shows that we are in this together. Hunting a treasure, searching for fine
pearls, and fishing in the sea are all a process of one kind or another.
Each has an active main character, for sure, but none act alone. Many
other unidentified but essential participants contribute to the process and to
the outcome. One sows and another reaps, so to speak, but their
participation is a joint effort (Jn 4:37).
We are in this together.
This
story also reveals that participation in the kingdom is an offer from God open
to everyone, though not everyone will accept the offer. The net cast upon
the sea catches fish of all kinds, but eventually, the wheat gets separated from
the chaff (Mt 3:12). In other words, the offer to participate in the
kingdom is a gift born of love, and like any true gift, can be accepted or
rejected. The choice is an individual matter, for God asks but does not
force anyone to participate in his kingdom.
Those
who choose to participate in the kingdom, however, have work to do. The
treasure hunter does not buy the field to keep the treasure hidden, but
presumably to share it with others in some manner. The merchant does not
buy fine pearls to stockpile or hoard them, but to sell them to others for a
profit. The fisherman does not keep the fish for his own consumption
alone, but for others to eat as well. Once we accept God’s offer to
participate in his kingdom, we are no longer passive observers. Our
participation is an active commitment to share our gifts and talents with
others. The question is, what does this require exactly?
Jesus
is our example in this regard. He came to do the will of his heavenly
father. And, the will of the heavenly Father is nothing less than to love
one another as Jesus loved us. Indeed, we demonstrate our faith in Jesus
Christ and our love for God with good works born of love. Jesus does not
provide specific instructions in this respect, but he guides us in many
ways—with the parables, with the beatitudes, with the Ten Commandments, with
various sayings and teachings. He also sends the Holy Spirit as our
helper and defender to guide our way.
Life
as a disciple of Christ is no more complicated than this. Participation
in the kingdom of heaven means that we are called to a life of good
works. This is what motivates St. Paul to write in his letter to Titus
that good works are evidence of our faith in God (Ti 3:8). Paul tells
Titus that we receive gifts from the Holy Spirit for service to others in
building up the kingdom here on earth (Eph 4:12). We build up the kingdom
by bringing Christ’s peace, justice, love, reconciliation, and respect for the
dignity of all to the people who are part of our own daily lives both near and
far.
Our
call is really a way of life, a way of seeing things, a worldview that is
possible through Christ, who strengthens us for the task at hand (Phil
4:13). When we conform ourselves to his image, we become coworkers with
Christ, collaborators who help bring about the kingdom. In this way, we
are the salt of the earth, the light for the world, a branch of the true vine,
a temple of the Holy Spirit, who transforms our hearts and thereby renews the
face of the earth.
This is the message of the
parables on the kingdom of heaven. God has chosen us for a life of good works
that will transform the world into a new reality, the kingdom of heaven,
however long that may take. Participation in the kingdom means that we
truly become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his
own, so that we may announce the praises of him who called us out of darkness
into his wonderful light (1Pt 2:9).
