Gospel (Lk 17:20-25)

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Lo, there!’ or ‘Lo, here!’ Do not go, do not follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation."

Commentary

The Pharisees thought that the kingdom of God would be manifested in a spectacular way. But the Son of God, since his birth in Bethlehem, gives us testimony that the Redemption he is going to carry out will follow very different paths than those they imagined.

The kingdom of God has arrived in such a simple and normal way that many cannot believe it is already present in their midst. They find it scandalous that the deepest Truth should appear in such a simple and discreet way.

Jesus teaches us that faith is a gift God grants to those with a simple heart: to those who can discover Him in the midst of their ordinary daily occupations and in the people with whom they interact. All that is needed is a heart open and eager to welcome Him and to learn what He wants to teach us.

God speaks to us through the Spirit. And he does so when He wants and where He wants. Saint Therese of Lisieux said: “the Doctor of Doctors teaches us without the sound of words. I have never heard Him speak, and yet I know He is within my soul. Every moment He is guiding and inspiring me, and just at the moment I need them, ‘lights’ till then unseen are granted me. Most often it is not at prayer that they come, but while I go about my daily duties.”^[1]

We need to be eager and attentive to hear what He wants to tell us. This requires letting Him guide our soul and striving to following his inspirations at each moment of the day.

^[1] Story of a Soul, ch. 8.