Lk 17:20-25
20Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, [Jesus] said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, 21and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you.”
22Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ [or] ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. 24For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be [in his day]. 25But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
Reflection:
Behold, the kingdom of God is among you. Jesus gives this reminder to all of us who long to see and touch God.
Are we a poor substitute of God’s warm hand? Do we seek God in places of apparitions or in healing Masses and charismatic sessions? Do we miss God’s presence in our families and in moments of silence and kindness? Do we not see God’s hand in sparks of inspiration and movements of grace? Have we been callous to God’s invitation to pray and be still?
One of the first lessons we learn in religion is that God is everywhere. Forgive us, Lord, when we seek you elsewhere except in our hearts and in the hearts of people. Amen.
Design a small altar at home.