The History of the Kingdom of God

The Level III students have been exploring the History of the Kingdom of God using materials that provide a tactile and visual understanding of its vastness and unity. One of the most exciting presentations is the Fettuccia, (Italian word for ribbon). This 150-yard-long grosgrain ribbon offers a tangible sense of the immensity of time, each rib symbolizing 1,000 years. The class took the long ribbon into the church and unrolled it from the Narthex (very back) all the way to the High Altar. As the ribbon stretched through the Nave, they were able to see and feel the immensity of time—from the beginning of creation to today and into the unknown future. As the students stood before the long, unrolled ribbon they reflected on the vastness of history and the closeness of God’s promise. They left with a deeper sense of purpose, knowing that they are a unique and indispensable part of God’s great plan, a story that will one day be fulfilled when Christ comes again and God’s love fills all creation.

The ribbon is marked by these sections:

1. The Beginning: The Red Fringe (God’s Mystery)
   The ribbon is first unwound, revealing the red fringe, marking the mystery of God’s creation. "Before anything we know existed, God was already there, ready to create."
2. The Mineral World: The Dark Blue Ribbon
   A long dark blue section appears, representing the time when only minerals existed—earth, rocks, water, and air. "It was a quiet world. No sounds, no movement, no life. But God was already preparing something amazing."
3. The Coming of Life: The Tan Ribbon
   The ribbon changes to tan, representing the emergence of plants and animals."God’s Spirit hovered over the waters, bringing life—tiny at first, but growing into the forests, flowers, and creatures we see today."
4. The Arrival of Humans: The Red Hand and Heart
   A red hand and heart mark the arrival of human beings, made in God’s image with the capacity to love and create."Among all creatures, humans were different—they could think, create, and ask, 'Who made all of this?'"
5. Jesus Christ: Redemption Begins
   A short yellow section represents Jesus' time on earth—brief, yet transformative." Though small in time, this was the greatest gift—Jesus, God’s own Son, came to bring us light and life."
6. Today: The Ribbon Ends in the Present
   The ribbon reaches the present day, emphasizing that Jesus' work of redemption continues through us. "We are part of this story! Jesus invites us to help write the remaining pages of God’s great history."
7. The Future: The White Ribbon of Parousia
   The white ribbon is attached, representing the future (a "blank page")—the unknown history still to be written."What do we know for certain? Jesus will come again!"
8. The End of the Story? No—The Beginning of Eternity!
   The ribbon ends at the High Altar, where the yellow and red fringe symbolizes the Parousia—when "God will be all in all. "At Parousia, the history of the Kingdom will be complete, but the Kingdom itself will last forever!"

After experiencing the Fetuccia lesson, the students began work with another material called the Blue Unity Strip, which they will continue exploring in the coming weeks. Both materials help deepen their understanding of Salvation History but with different emphases. The Blue Unity Strip shifts focus to the fulfillment of God’s plan, representing the ultimate unity of all creation at the Parousia. Unlike the Fetuccia’s expansive timeline, this simple blue strip highlights history’s purpose—God’s desire for all to be one in Him. Together, these materials help children grasp both the scope of history and its divine purpose, inviting them to live as active participants in God’s Kingdom today.

The Blank Page

While God is clearly the author of this plan for creation, we see that throughout history he has invited humans to collaborate with him from the beginning of their existence. Adam was given the task of naming the animals (Genesis 2:19), Noah built an ark for himself and all living creatures (Genesis 6:18-19), Abraham followed God’s call (Genesis 12), and Moses spoke for God to the Egyptians as he advocated for their freedom (Exodus 5-12). Mary’s “yes” to all God was asking brought forth the gift of Jesus, whose “yes” opened a new way of living, filled with risen life, to all. 

So what about us? Have we also been invited to collaborate with God? Yes, in each and every moment of our own lives. In the Atrium we call every next second, every hour and day between now and Parousia, the blank page. Why is it blank? We can look back and read history. We can hear about the way our ancestors have lived their lives. But tomorrow has not yet been written. God has a plan for tomorrow and part of his plan is to write through us, through our words and actions. What “yes” is he inviting of us? Who is in need of a kind word or gesture? In what way can we help to share his goodness with that person? How does he desire his light to be spread each moment of every day through our choices and actions? How can we collaborate with God in his great plan to bring all of creation to fullness of life?