Those who find it difficult to believe the Christian story see it only as delusional, expressed in many ways by unbelievers in the world's literature: pie in the sky thinking or more condemnatory seeing it as an opiate— taking our eyes off this world's reality. However, what they understand as delusional is in fact more delusional once they understand that the mature Christian not only believes in life after death but also that he is in God's Kingdom now while here on earth. No, the church is not the Kingdom but a tool of God to help in establishing the Kingdom. It is already here among us but not fully. Christians know only too well that weeds are always present within the church.
One of the great theologians of the past Origin (185 – c. 253) has left us the following words which are the second reading of the Breviary on the Feast of Christ the King.
"The kingdom of God, in the words of our Lord and Savior, does not come for all to see; nor shall they say: Behold, here it is, or behold, there it is; but the kingdom of God is within us, for the word of God is very near, in our mouth and in our heart. Thus it is clear that he who prays for the coming of God’s kingdom prays rightly to have it within himself, that there it might grow and bear fruit and become perfect. For God reigns in each of his holy ones. Anyone holy obeys the spiritual laws of God, who dwells in him as in a well-ordered city. The Father is present in the perfect soul, and with him, Christ reigns, according to the words: We shall come to him and make our home with him."
These words are what Catholic try to live as disciples bearing fruit, always hoping to be helped with God's grace.
Another theologian who lived many years ago St. Hildegard (1098-1179) one of the four-woman doctors of spirituality used the word 'viriditas' to describe God's spiritual and physical life force. The word is considered to be the union of the two Latin words Green and Truth.
The symbolism of green is enormous signifying life, birth, renewal, vigor, freshness, hope, vitality, and creativity. Greenness is the creative power of life, seen all around us and nurturing both our bodies and souls.
The normal liturgical color for Ordinary Time is green. Green vestments are associated with the time after Pentecost, the period in which the Church founded by the risen Christ and enlivened by the Holy Spirit began to grow and spread.
The New Testament Scriptures speak often about the Kingdom of Heaven or God's Kingdom, both the same. However often and by many, the understanding that we are now in God's Kingdom is not easily understood especially for those dealing with serious problems and yet it should be a foundational belief of Christians. Saint Catherine of Siena said: All the way to heaven is heaven. Jesus is the Way and where Jesus is there is also the kingdom.
Consequently, Christians desire that all see the greenness of life and want all to reap the love, joy, and peace that it brings. The Kingdom is here now but not fully and we need to participate in its growth.
