590. What does the Church ask for when she prays “Thy Kingdom come”? (part 2 continuation)

590. What does the Church ask for when she prays “Thy Kingdom come”? (part 2 continuation)       

(Comp 590 repetition) The Church prays for the final coming of the Kingdom of God through Christ’s return in glory. The Church prays also that the Kingdom of God increase from now on through people’s sanctification in the Spirit and through their commitment to the service of justice and peace in keeping with the Beatitudes. This petition is the cry of the Spirit and the Bride: “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

“In brief”

(CCC 2859) By the second petition, the Church looks first to Christ's return and the final coming of the Reign of God. It also prays for the growth of the Kingdom of God in the "today" of our own lives. 

To deepen and explain

(CCC 2818) In the Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come" refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ's return (Cf. Titus 2:13). But, far from distracting the Church from her mission in this present world, this desire commits her to it all the more strongly. Since Pentecost, the coming of that Reign is the work of the Spirit of the Lord who "complete[s] his work on earth and brings us the fullness of grace" (Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer IV, 118).

Reflection

(CCC 2819) "The kingdom of God [is] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has been joined between "the flesh" and the Spirit (Cf. Gal 5:16-25). Only a pure soul can boldly say: "Thy kingdom come." One who has heard Paul say, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies," and has purified himself in action, thought, and word will say to God: "Thy kingdom come!" (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catech. myst. 5, 13: PG 33, 1120A; cf. Rom 6:12). [IT CONTINUES]  

(The question: What does the Church ask for when she prays “Thy Kingdom come”? continues)