It may be a bit fitting to commence the season of Easter with a discussion on the Reign of God. This Kingdom, Reign, Rule, Heaven, seems to be a paradox for us. We want it and we work for it, yet our sins betray and sabotage it even in our most virtuous accomplishments on its behalf. This sad mystery: how do we comprehend it?
The Reign of God is today, and it is also not-yet. Where we stumble may be the location of not-yet. The Aparecida bishops give a list of where we might experience it in the here and now:
383. Evident signs of the presence of the Kingdom are:
- living the beatitudes personally and in community;
- the evangelization of the poor;
- knowing and doing the will of the Father;
- martyrdom for the faith;
- access of all to the goods of creation;
- sincere, fraternal, mutual forgiveness;
- accepting and respecting the richness of pluralism;
- and the struggle not to succumb to temptation and to not be slaves of evil.
For deeper examination, an English translation of the 2007 document from the Aparecida Conference.
Catholic Sensibility 