My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are nineteen (19) In Brief articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which treat the Lord’s Prayer or “Our Father.” The following reflection considers CCC, 2859
The second of the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come” calls for both the return of Christ in glory to judge the living and the dead as well as an increase of His reign in our lives until He should return.
In teaching us how to pray, the Lord Jesus includes eschatological realities (cf. Matthew 13:39-40, 49; 24:3; 28:20; John 6:39, 44, 54; 12:48). “Eschatology” is the science of the “last things” or the end of time and is similarly treated throughout the New Testament (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2; 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2; 9:26; James 5:3; 1 Peter 1:5;, 20; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Jude 1:18). The word “Parousia”denotes “coming” and “arrival” is also used in relation to the anticipated return of Christ. His first coming has already taken place. Remember Bethlehem. The resurrection of the dead at the end of time is a part of the coming of the Kingdom of Christ who Himself has already been raised.
In the Lord’s Prayer we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” addressing the Father. But the Father has given the Son all things and authority and judgment (cf. John 3:35; 522, 27). So, in a sense it is Christ’s Kingdom for which we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, which is not entirely unlike other kingdoms. Christ is the King of the Kingdom for which we pray, not George III (+1820) or Victor Emmanuel II (+1878). Christ’s Kingdom has it’s commandments even as Napoleon (+1821) had his Code (cf. John 14:15, 21; 15:10, 14, 17). Unlike kings of other kingdoms, Christ our King laid down His life for us (cf. Romans 5:8). While His Kingdom is not of this world (cf. John 18:36) we are even already citizens of Heaven (cf. Philippians 3:20).
Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) comments on the Lord’s Prayer in his Catechetical Instructions. gives three reasons why we pray for the coming of the kingdom: to strengthen the just, that unrepentant sinners may be punished, and that death may definitively be destroyed. Our faithfulness to prayer strengthens us. So as to avoid eternal punishments our fidelity to pray encourages us to sincere repentance. Our fidelity to prayer gives us a longing for life on high with Christ our King. Saint Thomas also gives three reasons why we should desire the coming of the Kingdom: perfect justice will be realized without any admixture of good and evil, perfect liberty will be realized without any oppression, perfect riches will be given both spiritual and material. Our humble prayer here below in the here and now anticipates the hereafter on high. By our fidelity to prayer and to Christ’s reign in our hearts and homes a great reward and promise is made to us, namely Heaven.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr