The inner life / Kingdom within

St Cyril of Alexandria

'Nor yet because of their wickedness does He deign to give them an answer to their question, but says that only which is for the benefit of all men, that the kingdom of God comes not by watchings; for behold! the kingdom of God is within you (cf. Lk 17:20-21). For do not ask, He says, about the times in which the season of the kingdom of heaven will again arise and come, but rather be in earnest, so you may be found worthy of it, for it is within you, that is, it depends upon your own wills, and is in your own power, whether or not you receive it. For every man who has attained to justification by means of faith in Christ, and is adorned by all virtue, is counted worthy of the kingdom of heaven.' (Commentary on the Gospel of St Luke, Homily 117, p. 468)

'The ladder to the Kingdom is hidden within you, and within your soul. Dive down into yourself, away from sin, and there you will find the steps by which you can ascend.' (The Wisdom of St Isaac of Syria, 1; ed. S. Brock, p. 1.)

'The pledge of the kingdom of heaven is the comfort that springs from sorrow. According to the apostle, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for," and the comfort that comes to the souls that mourn from the enlightenment of the Spirit is a visitation from God. On them He bestows the reward of a humble mind, which is called "the seed" (Lk. 8:5) and "the talent" (Mt 25:14ff.), for when it grows and multiplies in the souls of those who struggle it bears fruit for God "thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold" (Mk. 4:20), the holy fruit of the gifts of the Spirit. Where there is unfeigned humiliation there is also the depth of humility, and where there is humility there is also the enlightenment of the Spirit. Where there is the enlightenment of the Spirit, there is the outpouring of the light of God, there is God in the wisdom and knowledge of His mysteries. Where these mysteries are to be found, there is the kingdom of heaven and the experience of the kingdom and the hidden treasures of the knowledge of God (cf. Col. 2:3), which include the manifestation of poverty of spirit. Where poverty of spirit is perceived, there is also the sorrow that is full of joy. There are the ever-flowing tears that purify the soul that loves these things and cause it to be completely filled with light. (The Discourses, II.8l, pp. 52-53.)