The Gospel of Matthew is the first of the four Gospels. The early church believed that it was written first. It also begins with the genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham coming through the centuries to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, so it is in the logical sequence for it to be first. Later studies indicate that the Gospel of Mark was written first.
The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the visit by the Magi, the massacre of the Holy Innocents, the flight to Egypt and the return are all covered by the end of the second chapter.
The Gospel of Matthew makes this transition from the start of John the Baptist’s ministry to the start of Jesus’ ministry very quickly. After Jesus is tempted by the devil and John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus moves to Capernaum by the sea and begins his ministry.
We know from the Gospels that there was a very close connection between John the Baptist and Jesus from the very beginning. Elizabeth and the infant John both recognized the Divinity of Christ in the womb of Mary.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read: “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me?”
After the end of today’s Gospel reading, Jesus comes to John the Baptist in the Jordan River to be baptized. At first John is reluctant because he recognizes Jesus as the one who is mightier than he. Jesus tells John that it needs to be accomplished for the glory of God. This makes the bond between them even stronger.
In the Gospel reading for today, John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” In the next chapter, Jesus starts his ministry with the same words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
This phrase “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” will be heard frequently in the coming liturgical year. Sometimes it will be “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.”, depending on the Gospel. These two phrases are used over one hundred times in the Gospels.
It is interesting that this phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” which only appears in the Jewish based Gospel of Matthew, is used over thirty times. What is so unique and so important about this phrase that it is used so many times?
In Jesus’ time, the people knew about kingdoms and authority. Caesar was in Rome but ruled with absolute force. Anyone who opposed Rome was brutally dealt with in the public view so that all would see what happens to those who dare oppose Caesar.
The Jewish people also understood the Kingdoms could be good like King David who ruled the people with fairness and love. Much of the Old and New Testaments refer to Christ as King, coming in his glory as King of all the earth.
The people of Jesus’ time wanted a political kingdom like their father David who would overthrow the Roman Empire and free the people from the bondage and oppression they experienced every day.
It’s amazing that neither Jesus nor Gospel writers explain what is meant by the phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”. It is one of those things that all the listeners of that time would have known what is meant, so there was no need to explain. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help us two thousand years later.
So, what is really meant by “the kingdom of heaven”?
Deacon Donald Cox wrote about the kingdom of heaven in the Catholic Journal:
“Simply stated, the Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom that exists within and among the people of God. If we look at and combine all of the various statements made in Scripture regarding the Kingdom of Heaven, we find the following:
It is a Kingdom that is approached only through understanding.
You have to enter into this understanding only by acceptance, like that of a little child.
Entrance into this Kingdom is a spiritual rebirth.
This kingdom is populated by souls who devote themselves to doing the will of God.
This Kingdom, therefore, is not defined by geographic territory, but rather by dominion.
Think of the Kingdom of Heaven as God’s intentions for the universe. Citizens of this kingdom are, therefore, called to live the way that Christ lived and think the way that Christ thought.”
The kingdom of heaven takes us back to the very beginning of Genesis before we sinned and lost favor with God. Everything was working in accord with God’s intention for the universe. Then we succumbed to the temptation to be like God.
Think about the last sentence that Deacon Cox wrote. We are called to live the way that Christ lived and think the way that Christ thought.
When I look at my own life to see how I compare to the standard that Christ lived, I fail miserably.
But there is hope!
St Thomas Aquinas wrote: “No man is able of himself to grasp the supreme good of eternal life; he needs divine help. Hence, there is here a two-fold object, the eternal life we hope for, and the divine help we hope for.”
God understood that we are unable to enter the kingdom of heaven and achieve eternal life on our own. That’s why he sent his Son; to live as we live, to be tempted as we are tempted, to suffer pain and agony as we suffer; so that through his passion, death, and resurrection we have the hope of entering the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is the central theme of Jesus’ life and ministry. Are we going to be a part of it? Are we willing to repent, and change the way we live our lives? Are we willing to repent of our past sins and open our hearts for a spiritual rebirth to think and live like Christ?
If we are willing to do that, the world will be a radically different place.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel; and give us strength and courage to think as you thought and live as you lived.
