“I propose that the kingdom of God is a sign of hope and an invitation to heal our fractured world,” said Fr. Vien Nguyen, SCJ, in the opening lines of his presentation at DePaul University’s World Catholicism Week seminar, held May 1-2. “In this kingdom, justice is a principal value emphasized by the Hebrew prophets, lived by Jesus, and taught by the Church.”
Fr. Vien was one of three presenters on Friday morning. The title of his talk: “The Kingdom of God: From Scripture to Social Justice.”
“In preaching the kingdom of God, Jesus encouraged his listeners to actively engage in the mission of transformation,” said Fr. Vien. “The Church has responded to Jesus’s invitation to engage with the world as a sign of God’s reign and hope. In both its holiness and fragility, the Church has played a role in reflective, constructive, and prophetic engagement with the world. Its mission is to form consciences in souls and societies in order to promote faithful citizenship. The Church guides us to the power of reason in determining a just social order and addressing contemporary social issues. Its social teaching is rooted in the messages of the prophets and of Jesus. It emphasizes God’s concern for justice and the poor…
“God has given us Scripture, and the Church has provided us with its social teaching as tools to build the kingdom of God. Our mission, individually and collectively, is drawn from our faith in Jesus Christ to mend fractures in the world. We are called to become tangible signs of hope by dismantling anything that separates us from one another and upholding dignity for ourselves and our neighbors. Our care for one another, especially vulnerable and marginalized members of society, must begin with the deep conviction that we are created as beings meant for communion with God and with others.”
Click here to read Fr. Vien’s full text.
Fr. Vien notes that the text is from a book chapter that is still in progress. It was shortened due to the time constraints of the presentation at DePaul.
