Kingdom of God is the answer to our longings

August 5
August 5, 2008
Sarah Maria Domangue
August 7, 2008
August 5
August 5, 2008
Sarah Maria Domangue
August 7, 2008

When we analyze the “original sin” of Adam and Eve, one implication of their actions was they wanted “more.” They were not totally satisfied with being the human beings that God created them to be.

When the serpent tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, it said, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” They wanted to be like God. They wanted to be in control. Being human was not good enough. They wanted more.


The effects of the original sin are still with us. We are not satisfied with being the persons that God has created us to be. We have a real sense of longing, a craving for more, a sense of incompleteness. We feel that there is more to life than what we have now.


The usual way this is manifested today is wanting more “stuff.” We build bigger houses to hold all our stuff; when we realize that our houses will not hold all of our stuff, we rent storage facilities to unused portions. Have you ever noticed how many storage places have been cropping up in the last 10 years? It’s a sign of our times!

The sad part about this whole situation is that many people finally come to realize that the contents in the storage facility are not worth the rent they are paying. So they abandon the facility and lose the contents. They could have given the stuff to a charity – like Habitat for Humanity – which would sell it and use the money to build good houses for those in need.


We will do almost anything in our search for truth, fulfillment and happiness. Some have made pilgrimages to see holy places or holy men and women. Some have taken the latest seminar or course to find the answer “to life’s persistent questions.” Some have turned to drugs or alcohol or other addictions to find that elusive happiness.

Remember the saying, “Looking for love in all the wrong places.” St. John tells us that God is love. Since God equals love, we can say, “Many people are looking for God in all the wrong places.”

Jesus recognized our longing for something more and gave us the answer in the parables of the Kingdom of God. In the 13th chapter of Matthew’s gospel, several parables of the kingdom of heaven are presented. In all these parables, Jesus is not talking about the heavenly kingdom we think of going to when we die. He is talking about the kingdom of heaven here on earth. He often said, “The kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Once, when a Jewish Scribe said that loving God and neighbor was worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice, Jesus told him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34) Jesus also said, “The kingdom of God is within you.”

Prayer and reflection can open the gate to that kingdom in our hearts. Socrates once said, “An unreflected life is not worth living.” Jesus is telling us the same thing. Spend some time every day reflecting on what God is doing in your life.

Some people think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. We can be envious of others’ talents, wealth, car, house, holiness or lifestyle. But let’s be perfectly clear: We will not find the kingdom of heaven by wishing we were someone else. We have to look to our own lives, our present relationships to find God’s kingdom. That is the only place we will find God’s kingdom. We will continue this discussion next week.