In today’s Gospel we have Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, the Our Father. It is briefer than Matthew’s but still contains words that we live by—“your kingdom come.” As Apostles of Prayer we offer ourselves every day, asking that Christ may reign over all our thoughts, words, and deeds, all our prayers and works. In that way we will claim part of creation for Christ until the day that he will reign over all. The following reflection is from the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” #2818-20.

In the Lord's Prayer, "thy kingdom come" refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ's return. But, far from distracting the Church from her mission in this present world, this desire commits her to it all the more strongly. Since Pentecost, the coming of that Reign is the work of the Spirit of the Lord who "complete(s) his work on earth and brings us the fullness of grace." [Eucharist Prayer IV]

"The kingdom of God (is) righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." [Romans 14: 17] The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has been joined between "the flesh" and the Spirit. [See Galatians 5: 16-25] Only a pure soul can boldly say: "Thy kingdom come." One who has heard Paul say, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies," and has purified himself in action, thought and word will say to God: "Thy kingdom come!"

By a discernment according to the Spirit, Christians have to distinguish between the growth of the Reign of God and the progress of the culture and society in which they are involved. This distinction is not a separation. Man's vocation to eternal life does not suppress, but actually reinforces, his duty to put into action in this world the energies and means received from the Creator to serve justice and peace.