Homily: Thirty-second Thursday of Ordinary Time
Thirty-second Thursday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 17:20-25) “Where is Jesus?”
The Pharisees ask a question that many of us would like to ask. We pray in the Our Father, “Thy kingdom come.” We probably use that prayer every day. But when and how will this kingdom arrive? Some of us picture this happening at the end of our lives. We will enter the kingdom of heaven where we will live for all eternity, but that is only one interpretation of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus gives a rather curious response which can be taken in a couple of ways. Jesus says in the Gospel we just read, “The Kingdom of God is among you.” The Greek could also be interpreted as the Kingdom of God is within you.
If we think of the Kingdom of God as being among us, we might feel that Jesus was referring to his physical presence in the world. The Pharisees did not recognize who was right in front of them. Jesus was the embodiment of the Kingdom.
If the Kingdom of God is within us, then the Kingdom has to do with spiritual attitudes that we live out today. Can we live with an acquiescence to God’s designs for us in our life? Do we live with the idea that God wants only good things for us. With that attitude joy and peace may come to us.
Most of us want to control our life. We think if we can plan for every eventuality that we will find the peace of mind we crave. But usually, our plans go awry just as we are getting started and we feel afraid of the future. Somehow, we must give control over to our God.
The general idea is that we don’t have to wait for the arrival of the Kingdom at some future time in our life, but the Kingdom of God can be experienced today. If we can believe that then we will live life in a different fashion.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do I think of the Kingdom of Jesus as something that will arrive later? Why do I feel this way?
2. Can I be more attune to the Kingdom of God within me? What holds me back?
Dear Parishioners,
Yesterday we took down the Altar of the Dead that we had erected in church. I would like to thank our Hispanic Ministry Committee for erecting this and decorating it. It was a visible reminder of all those who have died that we have loved and want to remember.
We are moving steadily toward the Feast of Christ the King which is the last Feast of the liturgical year. We remember that Jesus came and established his Kingdom. Todays Gospel alludes to that Kingdom.
As we come to the end of another year we can ask if we have grown in faith in the past year. If so, we give thanks for all the good spiritual experiences we have had.
May Our Lady pray for peace in our troubled world.
Fr. Mark