Violence and the Kingdom

Gospel: Mark 11: 11-15

In today's Gospel portion Jesus talks about the relationship between the kingdom of God and violence, one that has two distinct movements.  In the first, the kingdom of God suffers violence, and that is its primary posture to violence.  We are to suffer the violence, not inflict it - and we are to do so joyfully and without complaint as the Lord Jesus himself did.  

The second relationship to violence is that which the inhabitants of the kingdom are allowed to inflict, and that is on oneself alone.  In this sense, violence is understood as penance, asceticism, and discipline that attacks the evil and sin within us that threatens the kingdom of God dwelling within us.  This violence is fasting, denials, and other penance done to avoid sin and evil in our own lives, for the only real enemy the kingdom has is me, the only enemy I can rightfully address.  

The kingdom of God is not Christendom or the Church or any other institution on earth.  It is God dwelling within each person and no outside entity can take it from us.  Thus the persecution, abuse, and mocking we endure are things we can experience with joy, for they cannot harm the kingdom.  The only harm can be done by us, and it is here where the struggle lies - against ourselves alone.