Things Concerning the Kingdom of God – Part 1
Main Idea
Pope Shenouda III speaks about the forty days that the Lord Christ spent with His disciples after the Resurrection, during which He spoke to them about the things concerning the Kingdom of God. He considers this period essential in establishing the teaching and life of the Church. He emphasizes that the Church is apostolic because the apostles received the teaching from Christ Himself, and that apostolic teaching is, in its foundation, divine teaching. He also explains that God is the source of spiritual teaching, teaching through the apostles and prophets, after which the teaching reaches believers through the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts and minds.
Spiritual Message
The lecture explains that the Kingdom of God has a personal aspect within the individual, where God reigns over the heart, mind, and life, and it also has a universal aspect concerning the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the Church throughout the world. Therefore, the believer should care about what builds his spiritual life and should not spend his time on trivial, harmful conversations or conversations that create doubts. Some people can make conversation a blessing because they spiritually strengthen a person and kindle the love of God in his heart, while others can destroy virtue and inner peace.
Educational Lesson
Pope Shenouda emphasizes the importance of reviewing the conversations a person hears and the readings he chooses, and of asking himself before entering any conversation: Is this useful for my spiritual edification or not? He also points to the importance of discipleship and pastoral visitation, explaining that Christ did not merely teach His disciples, but continued to visit them, strengthen them, and treat their weaknesses and doubts. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they eventually became a powerful force capable of spreading the word of salvation throughout the whole earth.
Practical Application
The believer is encouraged to sit at the feet of Christ with an open heart, just as Mary sat listening to Him, and to ask Him to reign over his heart, mind, and life. The practical application is to surrender one’s life to God and ask: What do You want, O Lord, to do in my life? How do You want to reign over my heart and my thoughts? The lecture also encourages believers to filter their conversations and readings from everything that is not beneficial and to choose what helps spiritual growth, self-edification, and the edification of others.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
