QUESTIONNAIRE: 

KINGDOM, CHURCH OR WORLD? 

INTRODUCTION 

The title of my homily for this 3rd Friday in Ordinary Time is, “Questionnaire: Kingdom, Church or World?”  

My homily for today is a question: "Which of these 3 would you put first, second and third: Kingdom, Church and World?" 

WHAT TRIGGERED THIS QUESTION? 

Jesus says to the scribe in today’s gospel, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Then the closing line in today’s gospel follows: “And no one dared to ask him any more questions.” Well, here are a few more questions and they can be asked in  prayer, “Jesus, where do you see me? Am I in the kingdom? Am I close or am I far from being in the kingdom?” 

TYPES OF PEOPLE 

Are there 3 types of people: those who put the Kingdom first, those who put the Church first, or those who put the World first? Then what people put second would bring out nuances amongst those who are clear on their first choice. 

When I used to do lots of Kids Retreats, I would ask the whole group on retreat to get up and stand in the middle of a big room or auditorium. Then to get kids used to making choices and to be able to say why they are saying, “Yes” to one thing and “No” to another thing, I’d say, “Look on the wall down there. I have a piece of paper with “1” on it. Now look at the wall on the opposite side, I have a piece of paper with a “2” on it. I’m about to give you 3 choices. 1, 2, or you can choose to stand still in the middle. That’s a third choice.” 

Then I’d say, “You are hungry, would you rather go to McDonald’s - that’s # 1 or would you rather go to Wendy’s - that’s #2 or if you don’t want to choose either, just stand in the middle - that’s #3.” I noticed that kids sometimes look to see what their friends are choosing - and really don’t choose for themselves. I would tell them this - and tell them this is a chance to think for yourselves - walk on their own - and choose for yourselves. 

Then I would do about 15 of these choices - always giving them the opportunity to stay in the middle. The choices would continue to get tougher. “Someone has bad breath. You would go and tell them - that’s #1. You would write them a note. That’s #2. And # 3 is to think of an alternative or you’ll do nothing.” Then I’d invite those who moved to either side back to the middle. “You have bad breath, would you ….” “It’s Sunday and ….” “You find a wallet and ….” [1]

CHURCH, KINGDOM, OR WORLD? 

So if I asked all of you to move to the center aisle and then said, “All those who would put Church first - stand up here in the sanctuary. All those who would put establishing the Kingdom first - go out into the lobby or narthex. And all those who would put World first go outside. It’s a beautiful day. And if you don’t want to make a choice or you’re not sure, stay where you are.” 

Wait that’s four choices! Correct. I’d do 4 choice exercises as well. 

Now there are Christian thinkers who say that Jesus didn’t mainly come to start a Church. Jesus came to proclaim the Kingdom. 

Others would say, “The Kingdom yes, but you need a Church first to be the proclaimers of the vision of Jesus and a Church to help keep the dream coming.

Others would say, “Jesus’ first mission was to come to this World - to save the World and to bring all people together as one.” 

I would hope people would stand in the middle because they would ask, “Tell me more!” Or they are not sure just what I’m talking about. To be honest, I’m not sure about what I’m trying to figure out in this homily. It’s a first draft - and I’m trying to get my hands on this for years now. 

THE KINGDOM 

If you listen to the Gospels you hear Jesus talking about the World and the Church - and you also hear him talking about the Kingdom. “The Kingdom of God is like this…. The Kingdom of Heaven is like that…. It’s like a farmer who…. It’s like a king …. It’s like a merchant….” 

For years I’ve also tried to come up with a modern word for “Kingdom”. Would it be: “the Vision of Jesus?” Or the “Dream of Jesus?” Or “the Plan of God?” 

The person who sees Kingdom first can be any denomination Christian or even outside those categories. Matthew 25: 31-46 might be their favorite text. “I was hungry…. I was thirsty …. I was sick …. I was in prison and you visited me…. 

The Feast of Christ the King might be their favorite feast day - which has in the preface of its Mass. “As king he claims dominion over all creation, that he may present to you, his almighty Father, an eternal and universal kingdom: a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.” 

THE CHURCH 

Jesus talks about his Church - the “EKKLESIA.” That’s Greek for “the gathering”. 

Jesus gathered disciples and said, “Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name….” 

Jesus named Peter the head - the rock - upon which he would build his Church. The person who puts this first might stress the Pope, the structure, the organization first. 

They might put the Mass, praying together - but a lot more first. The Acts of the Apostles would be very important - especially those early chapters where the Gathering was coming together and growing day by day. [Cf. for example, Acts of the Apostles 2:47]

THE WORLD 

What about the World? Would anyone put this first? 

In the mid-1970’s I became part of the Better World Movement - started by the Jesuit, Father Ricardo Lombardi, in response to Pope Pius XII’s radio address known as his “Proclamation for a Better World.” 

Of all the retreats and programs I have made, their material had the most substance and insights that I have ever become part of. 

The goal was to reach out to the Whole World and try to see all people in the net of the Trinity. It was a movement from the I to the We, from the Me to the Community. 

It’s a long story. I'll just say that much - in case you think of World in a negative sense - and if you read the scriptures and theology - there is that negative take on the world - as in avoiding the World, the Flesh and the Devil. [Cf. for example, John 8:23; John 15:9; Romans 3:19; James 1:27; 2 Peter 2:20; 1 John 2:15]

If you read the Gospels you’ll notice that Jesus leaves home and starts to walk the roads of our world and visit its villages. Jesus talks about seeing and serving one’s neighbor who is beaten up on the road. Jesus notices the lady in the market place who touches just the edge of his cloak to be healed. Jesus says to see the birds of the air and the flowers of the field. Jesus feeds the 5000 and heals the sick. 

The person who puts this first might be concerned about an end to racism, a spirit of welcome for all people, an end to division. 

There is the hope for fresh air, good water, a wonderful atmosphere for all. 

There is the call for all to work towards a world where justice is for all - and our structures are for community and for the common good. 

Preaching this attitude might be the royal road for reaching and reaching out to those who have problems with Church if they see it as self serving and insular and protecting itself - and lording it over others. “Oh,” they might realize, “the Pope is called to be the Servant of the Servants of God. Oh that’s what Jesus meant when he said, ‘I have come to serve and not be served.’” 

People with this attitude might like the 2nd Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation where the words are, “May he make your Church a sign of unity and an instrument of your peace among all peoples….” Then in the next section - where there are prayers for those who have died, we pray for our brothers and sisters and those of every race and tongue who have died in your friendship. Listen to the words, “Bring us to share with the them the unending banquet of unity in a new heaven and a new earth, where the fullness of your peace will shine forth in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

CONCLUSION 

Would this be seen as an exercise in futility? 

Would this be seen as a silly children’s game? 

Would it get everyone to remain in the middle and talk to each other? 

Would we begin to see what Father Avery Dulles, another Jesuit, discovered with his classic study that there are different Models of the Church - and we need to listen to understand each other? I once witnessed a parish group studying Dulles' 5 Models of the Church - and then being asked to stand in one of 5 places in a big room. I don't remember if they were given a 6th option - to stand still in a neutral place. [2]

Would all this challenge us to get off our sedentary thinking to see what we’re thinking - to get us to see where our faith and hope and charity are resting - that we might love the Lord our God with our all our heart, soul, mind and strength - and love our neighbor as ourselves - as we heard in today’s gospel - so that we might help our Church help make “Thy Kingdom Come” on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.



NOTES

[1]  Check out Values Clarifications - A Handbook of Practical Strategies for Teachers and Students by Sidney B. Simon, Leland W. Howe, Howard Kirschenbaum, Hart Publishing Company, Inc. New York, 1972

[2] Avery Dulles, Models of the Church, Doubleday, 1974