The Mystery of the Kingdom

By Ronald Knox When John the Baptist appears, announcing that the kingdom is at hand, he demands a particular response. When Jesus himself begins to proclaim the Gospel, he repeats that demand: “Jesus began to preach: Repent, he said, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” A strange command, to do penance and pursue perfection, given that its inspiration is a mystery. Knowledge of this mystery demands clues; Jesus provides these clues in the form of famous parables and enduring images. In the seventeen sermons of The Mystery of the Kingdom, Monsignor Ronald Knox examines these parables and images. The first series of sermons reflects on the parables as a whole, with uniform principles of interpretation and a firm foundation in Catholic doctrine of the Church and of human salvation thrown into relief against a background of Jewish Messianic speculation. The second series convenes the principal actors in Christ’s Passion, under headings suggested by the parable of the Sower.  Faithful to the