The Gospel for this Monday of January 6, 2025 became an open door to a future for me.  It begins with Jesus withdrawing to Galilee upon hearing that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been arrested. To my ears it was as if Jesus, probably knowing the nature of John’s fate, and being commissioned by John’s baptism of repentance, set forth to begin his own mission.

I wonder what feelings ran through Jesus’ mind and soul as he began what he surely knew would lead to his own death. He began to preach and say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And how was that kingdom manifest? Not in the way many people of Israel hoped - but in “curing every disease and illness” and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom - which showed itself in works of compassion, mercy, and healing. Even people who were "possessed, lunatics, and paralytics” - he cured them.
“great crowds" followed him, people from many regions, even from beyond the Jordan.

His fame spread - and we know how people who become famous are treated. Yet he still healed and through the many references to the Kingdom of God, the Reign of God, which occur throughout the gospels, we begin to understand the essential point of the Kingdom. It is not just then. It is now.

 The Kingdom of God dwells in the believer’s heart and soul. God reigns in your heart and mine. It is an action of ours to do good works, to go beyond mere belief but to manifest that belief in kindness to others.

Let’s do our best to manifest the Kingdom here and now throughout this year in acts great and small.