The Kingdom of God.....

Throughout the past few weeks at mass the theme of building the kingdom of God here on earth has come up on more than one again. One of my favorite songs from the Taize community proclaims this call on our lives so beautifully. The words proclaimed in the song are "The kingdom of God is justice and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Come Lord and open in us the gates of your kingdom." Every time I hear or sing this song the words penetrate my soul and I am reminded that building the kingdom of God begins within me. I must allow God to change me. I must allow God to open within me His kingdom, a kingdom where justice and peace rule, where love rises above all other things. As I allow God to change me, than I am given the grace to love, serve, and build his kingdom here and now. I was reminded again this week of how God uses so many aspects of our lives to change us within. I am changed daily through the ministries that God has blessed me with. As I work with the homeless and the elderly, God teaches me how to love a little bit more deeply with each passing day. He calls me out of myself and into a world that is other focused. I also am transformed through the holy friendships in my life. I have been blessed to have people on my journey who are above all else completely honest with me. They encourage my growth and help me to realize when my pride or stubbornness is getting in the way of me participation in the building of the kingdom of God. All to often I can get wrapped up in doing things perfect or succeeding at everything that I loose focus on the big picture. My local parish priest, Father Paul reminded me the other day that Mother Teresa said that "we are called upon not to be perfect, but faithful." This has become my new mantra as I try and untangle myself from this need to do everything and allow myself to be who I am. I am a child of God far from perfect, but working towards becoming the person God is calling me to be. It is my prayer and hope that I would continue to be faithful to God and who he is calling me to be so that I may help to build his kingdom here and now on earth. Finally, I am changed through regularly receiving the sacraments of the church. It is through these sacraments that I receive the graces needed to truly change. I am so thankful for God and for the ways in which he is molding and shaping me to become more like him.