“Being pleasantly ready for surprises in life, because God is close to us… always!”
(Based on Wis 7:22b-8:1 and Lk 17:20-25 – Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)
A young man, facing lot of difficulties in life, came across a large billboard in front of a Church.
That message brought in rays of hope, and caused the young man to once again, smile in life.
The billboard message read thus:
“God has planned happiness for each one of us, at the right time!
The only thing is that…
This calendar is kept hidden from us!
So be pleasantly ready for surprises in life!
God is close to you…
… always!”
Yes, each of us goes through the tough terrains of life
But we are called to realise, that the Lord is very much with us.
Are we ready to deepen our awareness…?
… that God is close to us, always!”
Are we aware that each of us is an abode of the “Presence of the Lord?”
The Gospel of the Day is a teaching on the Kingdom of God…
… and to deepen our awareness of God’s proximity with us.
The Pharisees ask “when” the kingdom will come (Lk 17:20)
Jesus, however, explains “how” the Kingdom will come (17:22-35)
Jesus does not give an answer to the question of the Pharisees.
Rather, He makes them realize what should be the proper question.
It’s the style and technique of the Lord to get right the priorities and focus in life!
The people searched for Jesus after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves…
Jesus sets right their intentions by speaking of the need to hunger for the bread of life (Jn 6)
The disciples of John came to clarify whether Jesus was indeed the Messiah to come…
Jesus sets right their focus by turning their attention to all His signs and deeds (Lk 7:19ff)
The two disciples, James and John, sought privileged places in Jesus’ future reign…
Jesus sets right their priorities by exhorting them to grow rather in humility and service (Mk 10: 35-45)
Nicodemus, in his encounter with Jesus, remained on peripheral questions and doubts…
Jesus sets right his doubts by calling his attention to living a life in the Spirit and being born anew spiritually (Jn 3: 1-21)
The Lord loves to challenge our doubts, theories and even convictions…
… in order to be in harmony with the priorities of the Kingdom.
Am I willing to allow the Lord to work in me to change some of my thinking patterns, that would be in accord with His Will?
Am I flexible to let the Lord to mould and shape my lifestyle and thus be in tune with the focus of His Kingdom?
The “Kingdom of God” is an oft-repeated phrase in the New Testament and especially in the Gospels.
What is the Kingdom of God?
A kingdom normally brings to mind a geographical territory, with its clear-cut boundaries and its rulers and citizens.
The Kingdom of God is, however, quite different!
The Kingdom of God is not a geographical dominion like worldly kingdoms!
The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality where God’s Will is done.
The Kingdom of God is a person…
… It is He – Jesus!
“Jesus leads people to realize the overwhelming fact that in Him, God is present among them and that He is God’s presence…” (from the book “Jesus of Nazareth – Part I” by Pope Benedict XVI)
The Pharisees who asked Jesus “when” the Kingdom would come, were probably expecting an external sort of a Kingdom.
They probably expected a Kingdom which would overturn and overthrow the Roman Government.
But Jesus clarifies the nature of this Kingdom…
He speaks of a Kingdom which is much more internal and spiritual, and whose impact would be felt and experienced in the external world.
One experiences the Kingdom of Heaven first in one’s inner life…
… and this is manifested in one’s external lifestyles
The Samaritan Woman experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within herself, when she spoke to Jesus, the fountain of life…
And this experience of the Kingdom led her to proclaim the name of Jesus to all her villagers and bring many to the saving fold of the Lord.
The Disciples experienced the power of the Kingdom of God within them, when the Holy Spirit descended on them…
And this experience of the Kingdom was manifested in their bold and powerful witnessing life!
St Paul experienced the force of the Kingdom of God within him, when he encountered the Risen Lord on the way to Damascus…
And this experience of the Kingdom was displayed by him through his passionate life of preaching and missionary works.
In the Prayer, the Our Father, we pray:
“Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done…”
The Kingdom of God is, where the Will of God is fulfilled.
The question arises before us:
Is the Kingdom of God here?
… or is the Kingdom yet to come?
This is where we speak of the concept of “Already and not yet”
The Kingdom of God is already here, but not yet!
The Kingdom of God already reigns now, but not yet, in its fullness!
St Paul says in 1 Cor 13:12, “At present, we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present, I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known”.
Do I experience the Kingdom of God in my life?
The Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17)
I need to experience the joy and the peace of the Lord in my life…
I need to place the priorities of God over all else in my life…
That’s the Kingdom of God.
That’s the Reign of God.
We are invited today “to radiate heaven on our faces!”
Let us be ready to collaborate with Jesus, to infuse a greater spirit of the Kingdom of God in this world …
… to promote the reach and spread of the Kingdom of God!
… and thus live as citizens, worthy of our Great King!
Let us know for sure that God has planned happiness for each one of us, at the right time!
So let us be pleasantly ready for surprises in life, because God is close to us…
… always!”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them
Others live in the way prescribed for all by the moral law, whether they are married or single.”
Married people are called to live conjugal chastity; others practice chastity in continence. (CCC # 2349)
Reflection Capsules 