Reflection
Matthew’s Gospel reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is “at hand.” This means God’s presence is not just a far-off promise; it just might be something within easy reach whenever we need it. It’s handy.’ When we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are asking for that perfect, heavenly reality to become our daily life.
The problem is that we often hesitate to trust God’s plan. We try to find our own ways to create peace and justice, but we tend to fail. One look at the news shows that modern wars and cruelty are just as heartless as those from thousands of years ago. Humans have never fixed the world on their own.
God has already given us the ‘handy’ tools to change this. From the commandments of the Old Testament to the New Testament’s acts of mercy and love, the instructions are clear.
God wants us to align our actions with his. He wants us to keep his wisdom easily accessible—always within reach—as we navigate our lives.
In heaven, the angels and saints obey God instantly and with great joy because they are motivated by perfect love. On earth, we are often slow or fearful. If we sincerely want to bring heaven to earth, we must move past our hesitation and learn to love as God loves.
Let us pray for the strength to surrender our own pride. When we follow His lead, we find that a life of grace and boundless love is not only readily accessible, i.e., ‘handy,’ but also permanently reshapes how we think and behave. The odds are we get to bask in more joy and centeredness than ever before.
