romero 3

We are warned...

that it profits one nothing to gain the whole world and lose oneself. 

Nevertheless, the expectation of a new earth must not weaken, but rather stimulate our concern for perfecting this earth, where the body of the new human family grows, a body that even now is able in some way to foreshadow that new age. 

And so, to the extent that temporal progress can contribute to the better ordering of human society, it is of serious concern for the kingdom of God, even though temporal progress must be carefully distinguished from the growth of Christ's kingdom.

For after we have spread the benefits of human dignity, brotherhood and freedom across the earth, in the Lord's Spirit and following his command, we shall rediscover all those good effects of our nature and of our efforts, but clean of every stain, brightened and transfigured. 

Thén Christ will hand over to the Father...

´an eternal and universal kingdom...

a kingdom of truth and life...

a kingdom of holiness and grace...

a kingdom of justice, love and peace´ 

[Preface from the Mass of Christ the King]

´On this earth... 

that kingdom is already present in mystery. 

When the Lord returns...

its perfection will be accomplished.´

[Gaudium & Spes, 39] 

 

This is the hope that inspires us Christians. 

We know that every effort to better a society... 

especially one that is so enmeshed [verstrikt geraakt] in injustice and in sin...

is an effort that God blesses, that God desires, that God demands of us. 

And when one finds generous people, like Sarita, and her thought incarnated in Jorgito and in all those who work for these ideals—one must try to purify them, of course, Christianize them, clothe them with the hope of what lies beyond. 

That makes them stronger, giving us the assurance that all that we work at on earth, if we nourish it in a Christian hope, will never be a failure. We’ll find it in a purer form in that kingdom where our merit will be in what we have worked at here on earth.

[bron]