That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel

 

 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves.  

 

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

 

- Luke 22:24–30 

 

Yesterday we read that, when the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

 

  Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves."  My study Bible comments that this small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries which Christ has just revealed (see yesterday's reading, above).  Jesus corrects His disciples by first comparing them to the power-hungry Gentiles, whom my study Bible says they already considered to be an abomination, and contrasting them to Himself, who serves us, although He is Lord of all.  

 

 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  My study Bible quotes the commentary of St. Ambrose of Milan:  "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking error with virtue."  The apostles will judge not with earthly judgment, my study Bible says, but by the witness of their own lives.  As God's kingdom begins with Christ's Resurrection, it notes, the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth (Matthew 16:19; John 20:23).  

 

 It's always remarkable to me how the disciples will betray all the impulses of human beings which are contrary to the intentions of Christ's Kingdom.  They show us who we are, in this sense, and the things we all battle against.  In particular this includes all of our varied and myriad impulses of selfishness and especially a desire for worldly power and position.  As my study Bible implies, how can they have any idea how in contradiction and out of place their squabble and their concerns are after receiving the holy mystery of the Eucharist?  But such is the stuff of the Gospels.  It's often long after events and teachings have taken place that the disciples come to grasp the fullness of Christ's meaning -- with more to come in the history of the Church.  But they tell us who we are, and so our Gospels show us what we're up against.  Jesus redirects them in an absolutely powerful manner.  For what He is doing is giving them the image of the true power they will wield, the high places which will be assigned to them in the Kingdom.  But it is not the type of Kingdom that they expect.  One can read in the Revelation that "a great, fiery red dragon" appeared as a sign in heaven, and "his tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth."  This is a story in symbolic language of the fallen angels, drawn by Satan in his own self-centered desire for power, and accepting human worship rather than serving God.  The one-third of the angels drawn down with him (whom we now call demons, and formed the backdrop of the story of pagan worship of a pantheon of gods) are meant to be replaced by human beings -- those who will serve in Christ's heavenly kingdom.  These are those, like the apostles, who have continued with Christ in His trials by following Him in this world.  They will take the place of the angels who failed to shepherd humankind (see Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Genesis 6:1-4; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6 Revelation 12:7-9; Matthew 25:41).  The aspirations of the apostles for places in a worldly kingdom are redirected by Christ to a goal of service (as He serves) and a heavenly kingdom that awaits a destiny that belongs to "those for whom it is prepared by My Father" (see Matthew 20:20-23).  As we have commented recently and throughout this blog, Christ comes to wage a spiritual battle in this world, to reclaim it -- and us -- for Himself and the Kingdom of heaven from the one known as the ruler of this world in the language of St. John's Gospel, the god of this age as St. Paul writes.   Let us remember that God is enthroned -- or not -- in the hearts and minds of human beings.  But moreover, there is a greater destiny for us, upon which rests the life of the world, meaning the whole of creation in the language of Scripture.  Jesus has come to prepare such a destiny for us; let us follow Him into the spiritual battle He asks of us.  Let us do as He directs the disciples in today's reading, take our minds from being conformed to this world and to the place that Christ prepares for us, and where He asks us to follow.   For that is how the good fight is fought.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God

 

 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.  

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The king of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves.  But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

 

- Luke 22:14–30 

 

Yesterday we read that the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.  Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.  So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.  And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.  So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.  Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.  And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."  So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?"  And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters.  Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'  Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready."  So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.   

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  My study Bible explains that Christ has a fervent desire for this Passover because this meal will give the mysteries of the new covenant to His followers, and because this event will bring about the great deliverance of humanity from sin through the power of the Cross.  

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  This first cup is the conclusion of the Old Testament Passover meal, which Christ eats with His disciples to fulfill the Law.  Until the kingdom of God comes means until Christ's Resurrection, my study Bible says.  For at that time He will again eat and drink with His disciples (Luke 24:43; Acts 10:41).  

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."  The word translated as gave thanks has at its root the Greek word "eucharist" (εὐχαριστέω/eucharisteo).  My study Bible comments that this word immediately came to refer to both the Liturgy and the sacrament of Holy Communion.  Before the end of the first century, it notes, a manuscript called the Didache (the earliest teaching manual of the Church; Didache means "Teaching" in Greek) refers to the celebration of the Liturgy as "the Eucharist."  In the year AD 150, moreover, St. Justin said of Holy Communion, "This food we call 'Eucharist,' of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing [holy baptism] for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ commanded us." Jesus says, This is My body:   My study Bible comments that the Orthodox Church has always accepted these words of Christ as true, "that the food consecrated by the word of prayer which comes from Him is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus" (St. Justin Martyr).  See also John 6:51-66.

But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.  My study Bible remarks that Judas also is invited to the table for the mystical supper, as Jesus is seeking by all means to save him.  Judas' unworthy participation will lead to his utter destruction (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-30; compare Esther 7). 

 

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The king of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves."  My study Bible comments that such a small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries which Christ has just revealed. (Perhaps it is because Christ has spoken of the coming of the Kingdom, the nature of which they do not yet fully understand.)  My study Bible asks us to note that Jesus first corrects the disciples by comparing them to the power-hungry Gentiles, whom they themselves considered an abomination, and contrasting them to Himself, who serves us although He is the Lord of all. 

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  My study Bible quotes from the commentary of St. Ambrose of Milan here:  "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith,and in rebuking error with virtue."  The apostles will not judge with earthly judgment, my study Bible says, but by the witness of their own lives.  Since God's kingdom begins with the Resurrection of Christ, the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth (Matthew 16:19; John 20:23).  

The Eucharist, by its very name, asks us to consider the importance of gratitude in our lives.  Something that is so central (in the Christian viewpoint) to all of humanity -- indeed, all of creation -- is a factor that forms a building block of the plan of God.  That is, if we accept that Christ is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), then we understand that even as the only-begotten Son, Christ was always the One who would sacrifice for our sake that we would be fed with unceasing good from God.  It indicates for us that the Son was always the fountain of water that springs up into everlasting life (John 4:14), and the bread of life, so that Jesus could teach, "He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).  In Christ's sacrifice then, is the reality of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world so that we all may partake of these tremendous gifts of such depth that we must call them mysteries.  It is clear that Christ's sacrifice will be for all people, for all time, but even more than that -- for the redemption of all the "world."  John's Gospel tells us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."  In the Greek, the word translated as "world" is κόσμος/kosmos, indicating not just the earth, but all of creation, the universe.  Therefore with this central event to all of spiritual life, the initiation of the Eucharist, we can grasp that our gratitude for what we are given is not just central to our faith, but central to the very foundation of creation in that the Son is not only Jesus the Incarnate Son who was crucified for us on the Cross, but also the Son of God who always was the Lamb slain for us.  The Son always was the One who gave Himself to give us eternal life, and to feed us with His Body and Blood so that we might have everlasting life with Him.  When we fail to practice gratitude, then, we are missing on the very source of our lives, and we fail to know something essential for our very well-being as creations of God.  We're missing our own foundation without it.  There is an epidemic of depression that seems to be noted by sociologists and psychologists, especially those who study the effects of social media, and very much an alarming trend among the young in terms of increasing affliction.  While we aspire to greater and greater wealth and feats of technology and innovation in a material sense, we might well wonder why it is afflicting people -- and especially young people -- with a growing sense of unease, loneliness, and rates of depression.  In Christ's sacrifice, in the Eucharist, we may partake of what makes us one Body, what is literally called Communion, for the root of sacrifice has always been sharing to make community identity with that which we worship.  In Christianity, it is God the Son who sacrifices Himself (as willed by God the Father) once for all time, that we may find ourselves in God's love and community, and in this sense the Eucharist is the gift that keeps giving, inexhaustibly and eternally.  In the science of psychology, it is well-known that the practice of gratitude is in itself one method to counteract depression.  But perhaps we might take that a step further with a deeper insight, and a much, much greater perspective on creation itself, to understand gratitude as the root of our being and spiritual relationship to Creator.  Without it, we falter.

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

 

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.  Therefore what shall we have?"  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

 

- Matthew 19:23-30 

 

Yesterday we read that little children were brought to Jesus that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."  And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."  He said to Him, "Which ones?"  Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth.  What do I still lack?"  Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 

 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."   My study Bible reminds us that there have been various interpretations suggested for the impossible image of a camel going through the eye of a needle.  Some have said the word (in Aramaic) was not camel, but "rope" which sounds similar in that language.  Others have suggested that the eye of a needle was the name for a city gate through which a camel might barely squeeze if it were first unloaded of its baggage, which symbolizes wealth.  In the Talmud there is the expression "for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle."  Wherever the phrase is from, it shows the impossibility of salvation for those who are attached to riches.  My study Bible says that this is clearly evidenced by the disciples' response, "Who then can be saved?"  Yet by God's grace, even the impossible for human beings can come to pass.

 

 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You.  Therefore what shall we have?"  So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  My study Bible quotes St. Ambrose of Milan (commenting on Luke 22:30):  "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking error with virtue."  My study Bible adds that the apostles will judge not with earthly judgment, but by the witness of their own lives.  Since God's kingdom begins with Christ's Resurrection, the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth.  

 

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  My study Bible comments here that Christ is not commanding believers to divorce spouses and abandon children.  According to St. John Chrysostom, it says, this refers to keeping faith under persecution even if it means to lose one's family.  It also means to accept that unbelieving family members may cut off ties because of the believer's faith (see 1 Corinthians 7:12-16).  Believers are promised a hundredfold of houses and relatives not in an earthly, but a spiritual sense:  we have the fathers and mothers of the Church, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and houses of fellowship and worship.

In yesterday's reading Jesus encountered the rich young ruler who wanted to know what he must do to attain eternal life (see above).  Jesus taught him that he must sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.  The young man went away dejected, for he had great possessions.  Today's reading is the continuance of that story, and we're given the responses of the apostles.  Their astonished response is, "Who then can be saved?" and we should all be right there with them.  For to understand that "hard saying" of Jesus is also to approach some of His other "hard sayings," such as when He uses metaphors of amputation to speak about cutting away our impulses to sin, even though they may feel as integral to us as parts of our bodies (see this reading, in which Jesus speaks of amputating a hand or eye or foot if it causes offense).  For the rich young man in yesterday's reading, his great possessions -- although perhaps considered to be great blessings -- formed a stumbling block to his attaining of eternal life, his capacity to truly follow and to love Christ.  These apostles understand this perfectly well, as is evidenced in their response.  For all of us are called upon to give up what is precious -- even what is seemingly an inseparable part of ourselves -- if it gets in the way and forms a stumbling block to the depth of faith that Christ calls us toward.  These disciples "get it," and so should we.  Our faith is not necessarily simple or without its difficulties and struggles.  Sometimes we're called upon to separate ourselves from our deepest attachments, so that Christ Himself may take the place of the things we think are indispensable, and so that our faith grows that much deeper into that place of deep attachment.  We are called upon to rely on God.  But, as Jesus indicates to the disciples, we are also given much to find in place of the things we leave behind -- and each of us may be quite surprised to find how that new thing fills us up once we do.  Devotion has a strange way of sufficing for itself, of giving us meaning and purpose and dedication, and providing us with rewards of the heart that are surprising.  How else could a persecuting, "fire-breathing" Saul turn into St. Paul?  How can we explain it?  Jesus gives us the answers to such questions, both in His teaching about what we might have to leave behind to get to the kingdom of heaven, and also in His powerful teaching that "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."   The reference to the apostles sitting on twelve thrones and judging the twelve tribes of Israel is intriguing in this context, because it indeed implies the great things that await those who enter into this Kingdom and enter into that eternal life sought by the rich young man.  "But," Jesus cautions, once more emphasizing the necessary humility, "many who are first will be last, and the last first."  Let us follow, with the help of God.

 

 

 

 

But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me

 

 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves.  

 

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

 

- Luke 22:24-30 

 

Yesterday we read that, when the hour had come, Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.  Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.  But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.  And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!"  Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

 

  Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.  And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves."  My study Bible comments that this small-minded dispute is out of place in the context of the mysteries Christ has just revealed.  He corrects the disciples by first comparing them to the power-hungry Gentiles, whom they themselves considered an abomination, and contrasting them to Himself.  For Christ serves us even though He is Lord of all.  

"But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."  Here my study Bible quotes St. Ambrose of Milan, who writes, "Christ judges by discerning the heart, and not by examining deeds.  So also the apostles are being shaped to exercise spiritual judgment concerning faith, and in rebuking error with virtue."  My study Bible also notes that the apostles will judge not with earthly judgment, but by the witness of their own lives.  As God's kingdom begins with the Resurrection of Christ, it says, so the authority of judgment has already been given to the apostles and their successors in the journey of the Church on earth (Matthew 16:19; John 20:23). 

 

 What does it mean to be a part of the kingdom of God? Here Jesus makes it clear that to participate in this kingdom, we must first receive it as it is given to us by Him (I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me).  We must understand it as a gift.  He makes it clear that this is linked to the fact that these disciples "are those who have continued with Me in My trials."  St. Ambrose, in the quotation from my study Bible, also clarifies that the means by which the apostles participate in that bestowed kingdom of God is "by rebuking error with virtue."  In this way they become the living stones spoken of by St. Peter:  "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:4-5).  So if we are to break down these teachings about the kingdom of God, we are to understand that the gift the disciples are given really has to do with the persistence of their faith, and their willingness to engage in what we can call spiritual battle in this context:  they have persisted through participation with Christ in His trials, and fought such battles by rebuking error with virtue.  If the gift of the Kingdom also comes with the enduring presence of the Holy Spirit, then our lives as followers of Jesus, and inheritors of this Kingdom as successors and fellow disciples means that we, also, must seek to live this kind of life.  This is how we carry the kingdom of God within us and through the world.  This is given to us in contrast to the earthly desire for greatness expressed by the apostles, their misunderstanding of what Christ's kingdom will be about, and what it will mean to be participants in it.  Jesus is leading them through His example of service, and not greatness on worldly terms.  As those who are given this Kingdom, they also will continue in trials, as Christ did before them, and they also must rebuke error with virtue, as Christ did, and showed them His blessed way of life.  Imagine what kind of repentance must have happened among them to go from one expectation (of worldly greatness in an earthly kingdom) to another (of service, endurance in trials, and the virtue exemplified and taught by Christ).   As those who would seek to inherit this Kingdom, and to participate in it, perhaps we must also consider what that means in the same way -- that expression of virtue in response to error.  In a very pragmatic and materially-oriented society, it seems that many have given up on such a standard in social mores.  Where once there were socially-acceptable characteristics of politeness, today we experience applause for behavior that shocks or outrages (nominally in the name of "progress" or "rights"), or is violent or provocative, often for similar reasons.  Unfortunately thanks to the widespread use of all kinds of media, and the attention that follows, such behavior and its public expression frequently goes viral thanks to social media and its addictive and even voyeuristic nature.  So, rebuking error with virtue, in such an environment, remains a challenge within yet new contexts.  But we are still those who would inherit this Kingdom, and the one way to do so is by being those living stones, and participating in the ways that we are called to do so.  If Christ's kingdom is born through His trials, so that it may open to the world through His Resurrection, then such struggles, and the full story of Resurrection, become what we're a part of -- the energies of grace in which we participate.  Let us consider what our struggles are and hold fast to Resurrection, for there is where we find ourselves as members of that Kingdom.  Today is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  We have already noted St. Peter's understanding of "living stones."  Let us quote from St. Paul also, relative to today's passage:  "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us" (2 Timothy 2:12).  Let us endure as living stones!