Lord: ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?’ For their retribution is ordained for the end of the world. Indeed, as soon as possible, Lord, may your kingdom come!’~ 2818 In the Lord’s Prayer, ‘thy kingdom come’ refers primarily to the final coming of the reign of God through Christ’s return.88 769 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 bring[s] us the fullness of grace.’8~ 2819 ‘The kingdom of God [is] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’90 The end-time in which we live is the age of the outpouring of the Spirit. Ever since Pentecost, a decisive battle has 2516 been joined between ‘the flesh’ and the Spirit.9’ Only a pure soul can boldly say: ‘Thy kingdom come.’ One who has 2519 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!’92 2820 By a discernment according to the Spirit, Christians have to distinguish between the growth of the Reign of God and the pro gress of the culture and society in which they are involved. This 1049 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.93 2821 This petition is taken up and granted in the prayer ofJesus 2746 which is present and effective in the Eucharist; it bears its fruit in new life in keeping with the Beatitudes.94 III. ‘Thy Will Be Done on Earth, As It Is in Heaven’ 2822 Our Father ‘desires all men to be saved and to come to the 851 knowledge of the truth.’95 He ‘is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish.’~6 His commandment is ‘that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one 2196