Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
We hear the instruction about the spirit and the power of wisdom. “Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom. Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.”
Jesus speaks of the coming of the kingdom in answer to the question—when the kingdom of God would come. In his reply, Jesus seems to say that the kingdom cannot be observed, such that people will not ask is it here, or is it there?
If that is the case, then how do we see it? How do we find this kingdom? Jesus tells them and tells us, Behold the kingdom of God is among you. This is like looking for the coming of the Son of Man – “he is here,” or “he is there.”
Puzzling words indeed from St. Luke. In other places in the Gospel, we hear that the Kingdom of God is at hand. The Kingdom is here in our midst. Only as far away as our neighbor whose hand we can reach out to touch. It is in our midst in the person of Jesus, yes. But in our midst in the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, those left alone, in sickness, or in prison—the little ones—the care of which will be the measure of our care for the Lord himself on the day of judgment.
The kingdom of God is at hand. The kingdom has come. The reign of God has entered our world—in the person of Jesus himself. The one who comes among us proclaims a time of favor, to bring healing, release, forgiveness, sight, and mercy to all.
Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections