Luke 17:20-25
Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
“The kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17:21)
Centuries
ago, people tried to predict the Second Coming of Christ based on
things like the occurrence of certain famines and plagues or the
positions of the stars and planets. More recently, we have seen similar
predictions, some going so far as to announce specific dates—only to be
proved wrong.
But
Jesus told us not to go looking for omens of his coming. We don’t need
to. Jesus’ return won’t be shrouded in secret. He will simply show up
one day, and everyone will bow before him!
What
we do need to know is that in many ways, Jesus’ kingdom is already
here! It arrived quietly on the day he was born. It supplanted the
kingdom of the world on the day he died. It became a part of everyday
human existence on the day of Pentecost. Yes, the kingdom of God is
among us, and it’s growing in strength and power every day.
Rather
than focus our attention on being ready for the day when Jesus comes
back, maybe we should focus on all those people who still haven’t
embraced the kingdom that he has already inaugurated. For when Jesus
said: “The kingdom of God is among you,” he wasn’t pointing only to
himself. He meant us as well!
How
does it feel knowing that you are a sign of the kingdom of God? Yes, in
your frail humanity, you carry within you the new life that Jesus now
lives in heaven. Whether or not you even know it, you have the ability
to live for “the praise of the glory of his grace” (Ephesians 1:6).
That’s what baptism did for you!
If
you want to know the power of this kingdom, the answer is both easy and
life-consuming: Fix your eyes on Jesus, not on your weaknesses or
faults. Learn how to stay close to the Lord, and you can be hopeful when
everyone else is anxious. You can be peaceful when others are angry.
You can pray for a solution when those around you are getting agitated.
The kingdom of heaven is here, and you are one of its many ambassadors!
“Lord,
I want to be a sign of your presence in this world. Help me to turn
away from every obstacle that blocks me from being a peaceful, loving
witness to your kingdom.”
Philemon 7-20; Psalm 146:7-10
The Word Among Us
1 comment:
Thursday, November 15, 2012
A call of truth and life...
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, “The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit to observation and there will be no one to say, ‘Look here! Look there!’ For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.” Luke 17 : 20-21
Dear children, my motherly call, which I direct to you today, is a call of truth and life. My Son, who is Life, loves you and knows you in truth. To come to know and to love yourself, you must come to know my Son; to come to know and to love others, you must see my Son in them. Therefore, my children, pray, pray, that you may comprehend and surrender with a spirit that is free, be completely transformed and, in this way, may have the Kingdom of Heaven in your heart on earth. Thank you!
Medjugorje message, July 2, 2010
Posted by bg at 12:01 AM
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