Setting our hearts on the Kingdom (Henri Nouwen)

For Jesus, there are no countries to be conquered,

no ideologies to be imposed,

no people to be dominated.

 There are only children,

women and men to be loved.

--Henri Nouwen

   The words of Jesus "Set your hearts on God's kingdom first... and all other things will be given you as well" summarize best the way we are called to live our lives. With our hearts set on God's kingdom. That kingdom is not some faraway land that we hope to reach, nor is it life after death or an ideal state of affairs. No. God's Kingdom is, first of all, the active presence of God's Spirit within us, offering us the freedom we truly desire. 

    And so the main question becomes: how do we set our hearts on the Kingdom first when our hearts are preoccupied with so many things? Somehow a radical change of heart is required, a change that allows us to experience the reality of our existence from God's place. 

--Henri Nouwen 

Image source:  https://www.sfcatholic.org/bishopsbulletin/christ-the-king-a-social-doctrine/
Quotation 1 source
Quotation 2 source