Homily: 32nd Week in Ordinary Time - Thursday - The Kingdom of God is Among You

Wisdom 7:22—8:1 View Readings

Psalm 119:89-91, 130, 135, 175

Luke 17:20-25

During the final weeks of the liturgical year, the readings at Mass focus more and more on the full coming of God’s kingdom at the end of time.  I love these readings because they already seem to prepare us for the season of Advent, when we focus on Christ’s coming in history, mystery, and majesty.

The Gospel for today even tells of the Pharisees asking Jesus “when the Kingdom of God would come”. 

On one hand, Jesus says the kingdom of God will come some time in the future, and there will be no wake up call, no sounding of trumpets.  There is an urgency to “be prepared” for that day.  On the other hand, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is already here.  He says, “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” 

I think Catholics are pretty comfortable with this truth.  God’s presence is already in our midst.  In every tabernacle in the world and at the celebration of every Mass, God is present in the Eucharist.  He is here, now, really present, through the Sacrament which Jesus instituted for his Church. We try to raise our children to be reverent when they come into the Church, teaching them to genuflect to the tabernacle, bending the knee to our Lord and Savior present in the tabernacle.

Yet, as people of faith, we also prepare for Christ’s coming at the end of time.  We pray well by lives of prayer, generous charity, and by cultivating the sort of wisdom we’ve been reading about in our first reading over the past few days: wisdom which “passes into holy souls from age to age.”

Eyes and hearts focused on wickedness, self-centeredness and worldly pursuits do not perceive the Kingdom of God present now and are not prepared for Christ’s coming again.  The very first words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are, “Repent, the kingdom of God is at hand.” 

We deepen in our faith in his presence now and prepare for his coming again by turning away from our sins and being faithful to his Gospel.  May he find our hearts ready and prepared  for the glory of God and salvation of souls.