I think it is important that we realize that the Kingdom of God is not like some territorial entity with a sovereign ruling over subjects who live there. We hear in the second reading: "To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom..." (Rev 1: 5-6). The kingdom we are talking about today is founded on love and composed of those who have been freed from their sins by the sacrifice of the Cross. Yes, we are the kingdom. The rule of Christ is manifested in his Church. This reality which is simultaneously spiritual and temporal is articulated and actualized through the sacraments. St Paul wrote to the Romans: "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rm 14: 17) The kingdom is therefore not a mechanism for ruling the world rather the inbreaking of the new creation that will reach its fulfilment in Second Coming when the "Lord of lords and King of kings" (Rev 17: 14) will take full possession of the reality founded on and informed by his passion, death and resurrection. In the letter of Peter we read: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Pt 2: 9) It is that dignity and mission that we celebrate today as we acknowledge Christ to be our king and ourselves to be his kingdom.
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