THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Our Lord Jesus Christ the King 28 October 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

The kingdom of Jesus Christ is in this world, but is not of this world. There is an important distinction to be made here. All other kingdoms are of this world; made here in this world, by this world, and for this world. The kingdom of God is from heaven, by heaven and for heaven. 

In this life (world) there are two kingdoms (or “cities” in St. Augustine’s words) both intermixed with each other as in the parable of the wheat and cockle sown in the same field. They must grow side by side until the last day. The kingdom of God is not in this place or that place, but rather is distributed throughout the whole earth, just as the kingdom of darkness is. If we look carefully we see both good and bad everywhere. Now is not the time to cut down or uproot the evil. The evil must be patiently put up with until the end – harvest. Then it will be God’s Angels not us who will gather the evil to be burned in hell and the good into heaven. 

The evil in this world is necessary for us. In the Church here on earth (God’s kingdom) we have great need for penance, suffering, and crosses so that we may purify ourselves and increase our love for God by following Him (imitating Him) in humbly carrying the cross. The cross, suffering, and penance are provided for us by the kingdom of darkness. Unwittingly those who hate us and wish to harm or destroy us become our greatest benefactors. While they harm their own souls by their evil, they provide us with the opportunity to grow in humility, strength, and virtues. Evil, then, is necessary to us here and now. When we truly begin to understand this we see how and why we must not hate those who do evil to us, but rather love our enemies. St. Paul likewise, reminds us that our glory is not in this world, but rather our glory is in the cross and this cross is provided for us by the enemies of the Kingdom of God, and sometimes even by other members of the Kingdom (the Church). “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Gal. vi, 14) 

Our vision of this Kingdom is through faith while we are here on earth, only in heaven will we see by sight. To see this Kingdom through faith here and now, we must look into our consciences and if there is charity (love) there, then we will see God; for St. John tells us that “God is love.” As the Kingdom of God is above and throughout this world we need not look for automobiles, ships, or airplanes, to get there. What we need are the two wings of charity: love of God, and love of neighbor. One wing is not enough, we need two. When both loves are in place we can soar to God very easily and freely. 

We all began in the kingdom of darkness and through the graces of God have been brought into the Kingdom of Light. We are therefore, unclean or blemished and are unworthy as an offering or sacrifice to God. Jesus came Himself therefore, and took our nature upon Himself, to become the clean and unblemished offering for us. The members of the Kingdom of God unite themselves to Christ becoming one with Him in the Mystical Body of Christ and in this manner cleanse and purify themselves in Christ and thus make themselves acceptable to God and His Kingdom. We become part of the clean oblation when we are united or buried in Christ’s body and Sacrifice. 

In this kingdom God demands that everyone must love Him. This is not for His own benefit. God has no need of our love. Our love does not increase Him in any way; nor does our hatred of God rob Him in anyway. We are commanded to love Him for our own good. In loving Him, we are cleansed, purified, and increase or grow in grace and life. In loving God we draw near to Him as King of kings. The title of king is not an honor to Him who is much more than that.

 God is all perfect to an eternal degree (perfection without limit). The honor we give to Him is not an increase of His power; it is, rather, a sign of mercy to us. 

In this time of eclipse it seems that the Church – God’s kingdom – has been abolished by the Modernists who have overtaken the physical houses of God here on earth even as far as the Vatican. An eclipse is not a destruction but rather a hiding. The Kingdom (Church) – Mystical Body – cannot be destroyed, but will subsist here on earth to the end of time and will continue eternally in Heaven. These Modernists who have created the darkness of this eclipse belong to the kingdom of darkness. They have declared themselves our enemies as such. May we not fight them on their terms – hatred for hatred, but rather may we return love for evil. Let us always be thankful for the crosses they cause us so that we may follow Christ and be worthy members of His Kingdom. Remembering that they cannot harm God or His Kingdom, but only themselves, let us filled with charity pray with Our King: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23, 24)