Expression of Beliefs - Kingdom of God

3.2: Expression of Beliefs

  • The belief in the Kingdom of God.

  • Learning Intention: To explore the expression of the Kingdom of God belief through the other 9 aspects.

  • Success Criteria:

    1. Describe the belief.

    2. Categorize the belief.

    3. Explain the expression of the belief through the other 8 aspects.

    4. Analyze how these expressions engender and nurture meaning with adherents.

Understanding the Belief

  • Resource 1: McBrien (1995) article.

    • Task: Read through the article, identify any mention of the expression of the belief in other aspects, and summarize your understanding of the belief.

  • Two other key resources:

    • Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

    • The Creed.

  • CCC:

    • Explains a large array of subsequent beliefs associated with the KOG belief.

    • Mainly pertains to living a Beatified life.

  • ENGENDERING MEANING:

    • Nature & purpose of human life - in the Catholic Church the CCC tells Catholics to live a beatified (blessed) life - following Christ’s commandments. If they do live a blessed life they will achieve salvation - eternal life.

  • Creed:

    • For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, on the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

    • Tells Catholics that the goal is to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth.

    • Talks about the second coming, the final judgement and the role of adherents to pursue the Kingdom by following Christ example.

  • Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Kingdom of God:

    • All are invited by Jesus to enter the Kingdom of God, even the worst of sinners are called to convert and accept the boundless mercy of the Father.

    • Already here on earth, the Kingdom belongs to those who accept it with a humble heart, and to them the mysteries of the Kingdom are revealed.

    • Jesus accompanied his words with signs and miracles to bear witness that the Kingdom is present in him, the Messiah.

    • He did not come to abolish all evils but to free us from the slavery of sin. The driving out of demons proclaimed that his cross would be victorious over "the ruler of this world" (John 12:31).

    • The Church prays for the final coming of the Kingdom of God through Christ's return in glory and that the Kingdom of God increase through people's sanctification in the Spirit and commitment to justice and peace.

    • This petition is the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

Making Connections

  • Need to articulate clearly how the beliefs engender and nurture meaning in adherents' lives.

  • Reflect on adherents' search for meaning from 3.1, thinking about how the beliefs we study, under the categories in 3.1 support adherents' lives.

  • REMINDER:

    • The belief in the Kingdom of God is a belief of the Roman Catholic Church that informs adherents’ understanding of their purpose of life and eternal life.

Exploring Expressions in Other Aspects

Texts

  • In the McBrien article, significant religious writings and sacred texts are mentioned, including times where Jesus indicated the Kingdom was at hand.

    • Write a list of each scripture reference to the Kingdom. For each reference indicate what it tells us about this belief.

    • Identify the core Vatican documents referenced in the article. What do these texts tell us about the belief in the KOG?

  • Slide 5 lists key texts used to express the kingdom of God, including:

    • Catechism of the Catholic Church.

    • The Creed.

Rituals

  • Mass

    • Strengthens our relationship with Christ, and through the Gospels readings, adherents are taught about the importance of the Kingdom of God and what they are called to do.

    • Reminds adherents to live in a way that will achieve the kingdom of God - “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”

    • Active participation in the Mass allows us to receive God through his words and the Eucharist, strengthening belief in Christ and his message.

    • God reserved the sabbath day for Mass as a day for adherents to reconnect their beliefs in the presence of the priest & the Holy Spirit and through the intake of the bread and wine (Jesus’ body and blood)

  • The Rosary

    • In the Rosary, the third Luminous Mystery (Mystery of Light) refers to the proclamation of the Kingdom.

    • 'The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel' (Mark 1:15).

    • Catholics meditate on the proclamation of the Kingdom in Mark’s Gospel and what this means.

    • The beginning of Jesus's preaching mission is to call us to conversion, as our sins have led us away from God. We need to be converted to bring the Kingdom to fulfillment.

    • When he sends out the 70 disciples, Jesus makes it clear that they are on a mission of peace (Luke 10). The Church today carries on this mission in its work to bring about the Kingdom of God.

  • Our Father

    • ”Our Father who art in heaven … thy kingdom come thy will be done, on earth as it is heaven”. This relates to the Kingdom of God as Jesus as the Father, states that the Kingdom of God will come when people act in a way that abides with the Beatitudes.