Grace Thompson
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God is a central tenet of Catholic belief, referring to Jesus' preaching about the arrival of God's kingdom and the need to repent and believe in the gospel. This proclamation is the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, marking the beginning of Jesus' preaching mission and his call to conversion. Jesus travelled through towns and villages, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing diseases and illnesses. This proclamation is not just about personal conversion but also about social implications, as Jesus came to preach good news to the poor, bringing healing and peace to all who suffer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the Kingdom of God | Majesty unlike the world's status and prestige |
| Call to conversion | To rethink and question one's way of living; to allow God to enter into one's life |
| Conversion | To come out of self-sufficiency and discover and accept our indigence and the indigence of others |
| Jesus's preaching mission | To call us to conversion |
| Jesus's message | :"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand" |
| Jesus's actions | Traveling through towns and villages, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every type of disease and illness |
| Jesus's sayings | "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"; "Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"; "Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"; "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my heavenly Father" |
| Parables | "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground"; "The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth" |
| Good news | The establishment of the kingdom of God |
| Understanding the good news | Not about building a utopia or political activism |
| True joy | Comes from our own conversion |
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What You'll Learn
The call to conversion
Conversion, from the Greek word "metanoia", carries a profound meaning. It signifies a transformative journey where individuals question their current way of living and open themselves up to God's guidance. It is a shift from self-sufficiency to acknowledging our shared human condition and embracing the love and forgiveness offered by God. Pope Benedict XVI elucidates this concept, explaining that conversion involves moving away from self-justification and towards humility, entrusting ourselves to God's love.
In the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, the call to conversion is emphasised as a central theme. Jesus' preaching mission begins with this call, inviting people to recognise their sins and seek forgiveness. Through conversion, we find healing and joy, as illustrated by Jesus sending out his disciples on a mission of peace and healing. The Christian life is characterised by this paradox of living in the present while eagerly anticipating the next world.
The proclamation of the kingdom and the call to conversion are intertwined. Jesus' message of the kingdom of God challenges societal norms and political ideologies. It is not about building a utopian society but rather, as Christ says, "the kingdom of God is within you". This inward transformation leads to outward expressions of love, forgiveness, and service to others. It is a call to live differently, guided by God's justice and goodness, rather than conforming to the standards of the world.
Ultimately, the call to conversion is a personal invitation to each individual. It requires a rethinking of our lives, a turning away from sin, and a turning towards God. Through this process, we find healing, peace, and a new life centred on God's love and righteousness.
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The meaning of conversion
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God is the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, which focuses on Jesus's preaching mission and his call to conversion.
Conversion, or 'metanoia' in Greek, means to rethink and question one's way of living and to allow God to enter one's life. It is about seeing life through God's eyes and seeking good and justice, rather than the judgement of the majority. This means not living as others do and not justifying one's actions based on the common practice.
Conversion is about coming out of self-sufficiency and discovering and accepting our own poverty and need for God. It is a turning away from self-justification and towards humility, entrusting oneself to God's love.
Through conversion, we gain interior liberty and are freed from external oppressions. Christ came to bring healing and peace to all who suffer, and his disciples were sent out on a mission of peace. Our joy comes from our conversion—we were sinners, but now we are healed.
Conversion is a call to become like little children, as it is harder for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. It is about seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness and doing the will of God the Father.
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The good news of the gospel
After John the Baptist's arrest, Jesus travelled to Galilee, where he proclaimed:
> "This is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)
This proclamation is an invitation to conversion, a call to re-evaluate one's life and allow God to enter and transform it. Conversion, in the Greek metanoia, means turning away from self-sufficiency and pride and instead embracing humility and dependence on God. It is a recognition of our need for God's forgiveness and friendship, as articulated by Pope Benedict XVI.
The gospel's good news is also about the joy of heaven beginning in this life. While the world may be fallen and imperfect, Christ offers a new life and a new friendship with God. This relationship with God is available to all who repent and believe, and it is through this personal transformation that true social justice and holiness can emerge.
In summary, the good news of the gospel is the proclamation of the kingdom of God by Jesus Christ, calling all people to repent and believe, to turn from their old ways of living, and to embrace a new life characterised by humility, forgiveness, and a deep relationship with God. This message of hope and transformation is at the heart of the Christian faith and continues to inspire and guide believers today.
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The kingdom of God is within you
The proclamation of the kingdom is the third luminous mystery in Catholic devotions. It refers to the preaching mission of Jesus of Nazareth, which lasted three years. After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God:
> "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)
Conversion is central to the proclamation of the kingdom. In the Greek language of the New Testament, "to convert" means to rethink and question one's way of living, allowing God to enter into and become the criterion of one's life. It means not living as others do, not feeling justified in evil actions just because others do the same, and not judging according to current opinions. Instead, it is about seeing one's life through the eyes of God, seeking the good, and aiming for God's justice rather than the judgment of the majority.
The proclamation of the kingdom is also a call to conversion, as Jesus says in Matthew 9:13, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." Through conversion, we are freed from external oppressions, as Christ came "to preach good news to the poor," bringing healing and peace to all who suffer (Luke 4:18).
Now, let's turn to the phrase, "The kingdom of God is within you," which is found in Luke 17:21. This statement was made by Jesus in response to a question from the Pharisees, who were his detractors, asking when the kingdom of God would come. Here is the verse in context:
> "Jesus answered, 'The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, “See here!” or “There!” For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.'" (Luke 17:20-21, NKJV)
The phrase "within you" has been translated in other versions as "in your midst," "among you," or "in the midst of you." The best interpretation seems to be that Jesus was inaugurating the kingdom as he changed the hearts of men, one at a time. In other words, the kingdom of God is already present in Jesus and among his followers, but it will also be fully realized in the future when God's reign is established. So, it is both present and coming.
The kingdom of God is not about external signs or spectacle but is an inner transformation, where God reigns in the hearts of believers. It is available to all, within reach, if only they become his disciples. It is a spiritual reality, present in Jesus' work and in the way his followers live out his teachings.
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The Christian paradox
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God is the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary. It is a meditation on Christ's preaching about the arrival of the kingdom of God.
After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfilment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15). This is the beginning of Jesus's preaching mission, calling people to convert to God.
Conversion, or 'metanoia' in Greek, means to come out of self-sufficiency and discover and accept our own and others' needs and weaknesses. It means to allow God to enter into and become the criteria of one's life, to see one's life through the eyes of God, and to look for a new style of life.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom is a call to action, to spread the good news of God and to bring peace and healing to all. It is a reminder that our true joy comes from our own conversion and that we must become more like Mary, whose pure heart enabled her to play her part in the coming of the kingdom on earth.
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Frequently asked questions
The proclamation of the kingdom is the Third Luminous Mystery of the Rosary, which involves meditating on Christ's preaching about the arrival of the kingdom of God.
Jesus proclaimed the message: ""Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand".
Conversion (metanoia) means to come out of self-sufficiency and discover and accept our indigency and that of others. It means to allow God to enter into the criteria of one's life and to see one's life through the eyes of God.
The kingdom of God refers to the establishment of God's kingdom, where God's will is done on earth as in heaven. It is a strange concept in modern times, as we do not speak of kingdoms and kings.
