Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

"Our Father, who art in heaven, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10.

How many times have we prayed this prayer? As I ponder these words, I wonder, "Has the Father's Kingdom already come? Do we really try do His will on earth?"

In John 18:36, Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. When Pilate asked Jesus if he were a king, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

In the above verse, Jesus indicates that he has a heavenly kingdom and it's not here yet. But elsewhere in scripture, Jesus indicates that his kingdom is already here.
 
In Matthew 5, verse 17, the scripture says: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." And in Matthew 10, verse 7, he sends out his apostles to announce the kingdom to the people: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Again in Matthew 12, verse 8: "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."

How can God's Kingdom already be here and at the same time, not be here yet? As I ponder the fact that Jesus is a King, I realize that since He is my brother, I am royalty too.

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter says "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. "

Which brings me to thoughts of Jesus' Church. Shouldn't this King who has a Kingdom both here and in the therafter have a Church that resembles a Kingdom? It makes sense to me? So what is a Kingdom-like? Well, it has a court with administrators who carry out the work of the King...who govern the Kingdom according to the King's decrees and laws. So if the Church resembles a Kingdom, it should govern us, according to the King's precepts, shouldn't it?

Honestly, I can think of no Christian Church on earth that looks and acts more like a Kingdom than the Catholic Church. This Church with its headquarteres in the former capital of the Roman Empire, the Empire that put their King to death, but that the Church later conquered. This Church with a hierarchical structure of Pope and bishops from all over the world that govern this Kingdom with what some might call "an iron rod." [Revelation 2:27]. I hear of more people rejecting the Catholic Church because they don't think it has a right to tell them what to do, and yet the Catholic Church claims to have Christ's authority to teach right from wrong and to govern his flock when it comes to faith and morals.

This Church with majestic buildings filled with gold vessels that hold the body and blood of their King and house fine art masterpieces depicting their King and his subjects. This Church whose leaders parade around in royal garb conducting elaborate ceremonies to accept new souls into the Kingdom and annoint them with oil, bless them with holy water and incense and feed them heavenly food.

So is Christ's Church a democracy whose members decide what doctrines to believe and what preacher preaches to their liking? Or is it a Kingdom that lords over its subjects with edicts and decrees that it receives from the King, guided by the King's advocate, the Holy Spirit?

Is Christ's Kingdom already here or is it yet to come? I believe that His Kingdom can be experienced here "on earth" as much as it can be experienced here "on earth" in his holy, Catholic Church.

After all, Jesus did give the keys to his Church to St. Peter, the first pope, who was martyred in Rome and is buried underneath the Vatican.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" [Matthew 16:18-19]