The call of origin: beyond religion to rediscover the project
Called to reign in life together with Him
In the heart of every man lives an original urge, the call of the source that impels us to desire union with God and to share with Him the life He has given on earth.
This is not a passing impulse or a cultural tension, but an original drive that accompanies man from conception until death. It is the call of the source from which man comes, the desire to live fully, in communion with the One who gave rise to life.
Through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, man receives the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and is called to reign in life together with Him.
This reigning is not domination over others, but active participation in God’s government on earth so that God’s life can be manifested in the concrete circumstances of existence.
Jesus was clear about this when an argument also arose among his own as to which of them could be considered the greatest. It was then he said, “Let he who is greatest among you become as the least, and he who rules as he who serves … I prepare for you a kingdom, just as the Father has prepared it for me.” (Lk. 22:26-29).
Divine plan to extend the Kingdom
Those who are faithful to Jesus become involved in the divine plan to extend the Kingdom, cooperating with Christ in serving human beings so that all people may be reached by the message of the Kingdom and may become disciples of Jesus, returning to the family of God.
Inside every person exists the desire to face life without being crushed by fear, anxiety or the uncertainty of tomorrow.
It is the desire to bring into the heart an answer, a direction, a stability that does not depend on external conditions.
This deep inclination stems from the fact that God’s life is present in man because it comes from God.
Therefore, every man feels the need to face circumstances with God’s wisdom, even when he cannot name it.
He needs to know the “how” to do, not just to know “what” to do. Always provided he understands the “why” of everything.
And only the Holy Spirit, who is God, gives divine wisdom, knowledge and intelligence
In search of reconnection with the Creator
Throughout history, every civilization, culture, nation and ethnic group has sought a form of reconnection with the Creator.
Mankind has labored in an attempt to find access to God, but without being able to locate the key.
It is in this context that Jesus Christ enters history: coming to earth, He brings back the Kingdom of God to all nations.
Those who believe in Him can regain the original ability to govern life: their “royal service” consists in guarding the environment by lovingly cultivating it. In dealing with circumstances under God’s will and in harmony to go through them in resolving them in favor of God’s plan.
This was God’s plan from the beginning, a plan that has never been abandoned. The originality of this message lies in the sharp distinction between religion and Kingdom.
Clear distinction between religion and Kingdom
The divine plan did not envisage the establishment of a religion made up of human toil in adaptation to difficulties, rules, rituals or practices aimed at purifying the conscience or winning the favor of a distant deity in an attempt to reach it. God’s plan was for man to manifest on earth the very life of God, living in communion with Him, for from Him he came and with Him he was destined to remain. It was God who reached out to man to restore His original plan.
This plan was thwarted by rebellion. The betrayal of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, the spread of wickedness that led to the Flood, and the pride of Babel that divided mankind mark decisive stages in this rupture. However, God never devised an alternative plan. His intent has always been to dwell on earth with a family of sons who cooperate with Him in the government of creation. From eternity, God has arranged the conditions necessary to restore what He had originally established.
How to re-establish the connection?
When Jesus came to earth and the Word became flesh, His message was clear, though deeply misunderstood. Man had sought to reach God through his own efforts, religious systems and sacred practices to secure his own survival and divine favor. Jesus showed that this was not the Father’s will. The time of effort to reach God was over; the time of where God reaches out to man as true man had begun. So that man could live together with God on earth, sharing His life.
Jesus did not bring a method, nor a ritualistic or legalistic system.
He did not come to establish a religion, but to restore man to the priestly position as God’s representative that he had lost through rebellion. Jesus reconstituted God’s human family on earth as a living community.
In Genesis we read that God created man in His image and likeness and entrusted Him with dominion over the earth. Humanity was called to fill the world with divine image bearers, spreading the knowledge and glory of God in creation.
Man’s deepest desire is not simply to survive. Basic needs-food, protection, safety-are necessary, but not sufficient to satisfy the human heart. Man may survive, but feel deeply frustrated if he does not live the purpose for which he was created. This purpose is to govern the earth on God’s behalf, to manifest His life in creation and to live in communion with Him.
The message of Jesus
This is the message of Jesus: the Kingdom of God has been brought back to earth. Men are called to live as family members of the King. In the Gospels, Jesus continually preaches about the Kingdom of Heaven. The good news is that the Kingdom is reopened and accessible to all. Those who receive it are restored to the position of representative of the heavenly government, not to dominate over others, but to serve God’s purpose and our vocation as bearers of His image, to face circumstances without being overwhelmed by them, and to witness that life is a precious gift from God.
As Jesus said, “The leaders of the nations, you know, rule over them and the great exercise power over them. Not so shall it be among you; but he who wishes to become great among you, shall make himself your servant, and he who wishes to be first among you, shall make himself your slave; just as the Son of Man, who came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:25-28).
When Jesus proclaimed, “Change your way of thinking, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” he was announcing that the Kingdom was at hand again. The change required was not ritual, but involved a transformation of mindset(metanoia): trusting Him, remaining faithful to Him, and embracing the reality of the present Kingdom.
The fundamental choice is between the “effort method” and metanoia: a change of mindset that enables us to stop surviving and start living as family members of the King, seeking His Kingdom as the top priority.
Jesus did not come to appease a distant god, but to restore the connection with the Most High. His purpose was to bring the Holy Spirit back into man so that the ability to live and govern according to God’s wisdom would be reactivated.
The priorities of the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God has priorities. The Bible is the book that tells of the Kingdom, the King and the King’s sons who represent Him on earth. This radically changes the way it is read. Jesus taught that man’s priority is not to toil for food, clothing or survival. These are natural requirements, but not the center of life according to God.
The priority is the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything else is added. These are words of a King who knows the needs of His creatures. Jesus makes it clear that those who live like the “Gentiles,” relying on religious systems or methods for safety and security, have not met the true God. Those who know Father know that the Kingdom is the top priority.
Seeking the Kingdom means following its trail, desiring it, investigating it, learning to live and cooperate under His rule. This tension toward God is innate in man, but it is often misunderstood as something that will be realized only after death. Jesus showed that intimacy with God is possible even now, in the present life.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a present reality, although not yet in its final fullness. Jesus came to usher him in and fill those who choose to remain faithful to him with the Holy Spirit. Living in the Kingdom means representing God on earth, living in peace, governing circumstances and manifesting the new creation.
The top priority is to understand and live the Kingdom of God. This is what Christians pray when they say, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus’ message is clear: the Kingdom of God is already present, and it is entrusted to men and women called to represent it, so that His influence will transform the earth.
Maurizio Tiezzi