THURSDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2023
THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY SECOND WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME A
Wisdom 7:22-8:1
Luke 17:20-25
HALLOWING THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The Pharisees in their bid to trap Jesus poses the question of when the kingdom of God will be expected. Their illusion has led them to think that the kingdom of God is constraint by time and season and circumscribed by space and nature. But this illusion exposes their ignorance.
Jesus uses the opportunity to correct them and warns against the attitude of expecting the kingdom of God at any time or in any place. For Jesus, the kingdom of God is already in our midst and we have failed to recognize it. For indeed the kingdom of God is the reign of God. It means keying into the supremacy of God and walking in his ways. It means recognizing the reign of God with the virtues that are expected of us.
God is in our midst already, a Mighty man of valour, ordering all things, putting everything in place, directing the movement of our lives and leading us in this battle of our lives. As Jesus reminded them, that, “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. There 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.”
The presence of Jesus, his active role in our world, his actions of healing, securing the lives of his followers, and leading all through his teachings to gain the favour and blessings of God is the real kingdom of God in our midst.
Our daily struggles to walk along, to listen and abide by his instructions, to build up virtue and strength in the spirit is the key to entering the kingdom of God. So there is no need to expect a particular day or time or season when the said kingdom will come. Why wait? He is in our midst already. Look therefore for him and walk along.
The book of wisdom teaches us the character we must possess to be able to live well and recognize God in our midst. We must strive after wisdom, which “is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, “
And when we strive after these virtues, our light will shine and the Kingdom of God admits of all these.
God our Father, give to your people the wisdom to guide our lives to you. Bless us with greater knowledge of the supernatural and our eternal glory and happiness. Protect us from worldly banal knowledge and strangulations of the flesh. Clothe us with your wisdom from on high so that we may always seek higher wisdom and attain it through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
