Thursday, October 16, 2023

Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Wisdom 7:22b-8:1; Luke 17:20-25)

It is often said that the biblical Kingdom of God is better rendered Reign of God.  The reason given is that the concept indicates a dynamism more than a territory.  Something similar may be said about heaven.  Although people may point to the sky when they say the word, heaven is more a condition of love than a physical locale.  In today’s gospel, Jesus stretches the idea of Kingdom of God even more.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God is neither a place nor a thing.  He adds that it is “among” them.  He may be referring to a relationship with himself.  The Kingdom of God is friendship with Jesus himself.  He provides all the security and support, the joy and the affection that makes life worth living.  Since he will rise from the dead, the Kingdom of God will likewise never know a sunset.

Jesus extends his hand to form a relationship with us daily.  He is present to us physically in the Eucharist where we actually take him into ourselves.  The experience does not diminish him, but it does expand us.  Having his love and support, we can become as gracious and happy as he.  We become bearers of the Kingdom to others.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(Philemon 7-20; Luke 17:20-25)

It is often said that the biblical Kingdom of God is better rendered Reign of God.  The reason given is that the concept indicates a dynamism more than a territory.  Something similar may be said about heaven.  Although people may point to the sky when they say the word, heaven is more a condition of love than a physical locale.  In today’s gospel, Jesus stretches the idea of Kingdom of God even more.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of God is neither a place nor a thing.  He adds that it is “among” them.  He may be referring to a relationship with himself.  The Kingdom of God is friendship with Jesus himself.  He provides all the security and support, the joy and the affection that makes life worth living.  Since he will rise from the dead, the Kingdom of God will likewise never know a sunset.

Jesus extends his hand to form a relationship with us daily.  He is present to us physically in the Eucharist where we actually take him into ourselves.  The experience does not diminish him, but it does expand us.  Having his love and support, we can become as gracious and happy as he.  We become bearers of the Kingdom to others.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope

(Philemon 7-20; Luke 17:20-25)

The Chicago Cubs won the World Series.  It was their first championship in more than one hundred years.  One Cub fan said when they won the final game, “Now I can die in peace.” He probably did not realize that he was paraphrasing Simeon in the Gospel of Luke.  When Simenon sees the infant Jesus in the Temple, he says: “’Now you may dismiss your servant in peace, O Lord…For my eyes have seen your salvation.’”  Unknowingly the Cub fan was confusing a baseball championship with Jesus, the world’s salvation.

In today’s gospel Jesus predicts that there will be false saviors.  People will think that the Chicago Cubs or the Republican Party or winning the lottery is somehow going to save them from all that is evil in the world.  But only Jesus can do that because he is the Son of God whose obedience unto an unseemly death has reconciled humanity with the Father.  We now await his return to give the fullness of life to his followers.

Today we celebrate St. Leo the Great.  He was probably as much aware of the centrality of Jesus to human salvation as anyone.  Leo lived in the fifth century when the relationship of Jesus’ divinity to his humanity was debated.  He derived an understanding that was accepted by the bishops at the Council of Chalcedon.  Jesus is a divine person with both a divine and human nature.  Because he is divine, his sacrifice on the cross is salvific.  Because he is human, it redeems the whole human race. 

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Memorial of St. Josephat, bishop and martyr

Wisdom 7:22b-8:1; Luke 17:20-25)

In the movie Philomena the son of an unmarried woman is unlawfully given to another family.  When many years later the woman discovers that the perpetrators of the crime are a congregation of sisters, she decides not to sew for personal damages.  Thankful to have closure to the question of what became of her son, Philomena accepts the apologies of the congregation.  Obviously she lives within the Kingdom of God.

As Jesus explains to the Pharisees in today’s gospel, the Kingdom of God has no geographical boundaries.  Nor is it confined to any moment of time.  Rather the Kingdom of God exists wherever men and women recognize that their lives are gifts from God which they are to share with others.  It is the freedom experienced in thanking God by joyfully serving all as brothers and sisters.

We live in a world that believes that justice can be achieved by recognizing a full complement of human rights for all.  Soon, however, we see that there are many more rights than there are responsibilities to assure their being honored.  Living in God’s Kingdom, we realize that we must sacrifice at least some of our rights claims.  It means that we humble ourselves for the good of our neighbors.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

(Phil 7-20; Luke 17:20-25)

However arrogant the Pharisees appear in the gospels, they also sincerely want to know about God.  In today’s gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus when the Kingdom of God will come about.  Like us they long for a society where everyone lives as God commands.

Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees resonates with what he has said before.  The Kingdom presents itself gradually like wheat growing in a field.  It is there even as Jesus speaks.  As a matter a fact, it has come in the person of Jesus who stands before them.  It is found in us as well as we have been incorporated into Christ through Baptism.

The Kingdom of God is present when we make ourselves “Advent Angels” or some other kind of caregiver.  It is there when the man stops on the highway to assist a driver with a flat tire and no idea how to jack up a car.  It is found as well when we just smile and not curse at the car which abruptly swerves into our lane.

Homilette for Thursday, November 12, 2009

Memorial of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr

(Wisdom 7:22b-8:1; Luke 17:20-25)

However arrogant the Pharisees appear in the gospels, they also sincerely want to know about God. In today’s gospel, the Pharisees ask Jesus when the Kingdom of God will come about. Like us they long for a society where everyone behaves as God commands.

Jesus’ reply to the Pharisees -- that the Kingdom is in their midst -- echoes what he has said before. The Kingdom presents itself gradually like wheat growing in a field. It is there even as Jesus speaks. As a matter a fact, it has come in the person of Jesus who stands before them. It is present in us as well as we carry Jesus in our person through Baptism.

The Kingdom of God is present when we make ourselves “Advent Angels” or some other kind of caregiver. It is found in our presence when we reach to help the stranger. It is there where the man stops on the highway to assist a driver with a flat tire and no idea how to jack up a car. It is there when we smile at the driver who comes into our lane.