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.”
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: The Gospels use equivalent expressions for “the kingdom of God”: “the kingdom of heaven” and “the kingdom.” The Greek basileia tou theou (kingdom of God) translates the Hebrew malkut samayim (kingdom of heaven) where “heaven” is used in place of “God” out of reverence for his name. The primary sense of the Hebrew malkut is dynamic—that is, “sovereignty” or “royal rule.” The sense of realm or territorial kingdom is secondary. Therefore, “the kingdom of God” signifies God’s sovereign, dynamic, and eschatological rule.
In the Old Testament, there is a noticeable absence of the expression “kingdom of God” (except in Wis 10:10). The idea of the reign of God is, however, ubiquitous. God is many times presented as king. In the Psalms, he is ascribed a royal throne. The covenant with Israel affirms the sovereignty of Yahweh over the people.
As the awaited Messiah, Jesus uses “the kingdom of God” as a leitmotif of his teaching. Jesus’ teaching about the “kingdom of God” has continuity with the Old Testament, but it also goes beyond it in these respects: (1) the kingdom of God is primarily a dynamic, rather than a geographical/territorial entity; (2) entrance to the kingdom is not confined to Jews; (3) the kingdom is not a vague future hope, but is definite, imminent, and starts right here and now; (4) the kingdom is connected with Jesus’ destiny, his mission, and his person. Hence, as the Gospel today proclaims, “the kingdom of God is among you.” It is already present and active as people strive to live their faith in God through Jesus. It is “within our grasp”; it is “within us.”