“This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:9-13

Think back to our conversation earlier about the Lord’s Prayer. (Refer back to some of the answers that the class gave as to what the line “Your Kingdom come...” could mean.) The Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2818 teaches us that “‘Thy kingdom come’ refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ’s return.” Even if we did not receive this prayer from Christ, these words may have arisen from our hope in God. We entrust our lives and our futures to Him and know that He is bringing about His Kingdom on earth and in Heaven.

The Kingdom of God refers to God’s “reign” and His “kingship.” It is His rule and His will. Jesus came to bring about God’s Kingdom here on earth.

Christ established the Church on earth, the Body of Christ, and the Holy Spirit sustains and guides the Church in her mission to bring the Kingdom of God to fulfillment. The Church is a visible sign of God’s Kingdom on earth. Christ and the Holy Spirit protect and bring about the coming of the Kingdom.