Read Wisdom 7:22-8:1, Ps. 119:89-91,130,135,175, Luke 17:20-25
“Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)
Today’s first reading perfectly describes the essence of spiritual wisdom as against worldly wisdom. As the Book of Wisdom says, being wise is unpolluted by immoral thoughts and sensual desires. Wisdom is spotless and undefiled by worldly corruption. When your heart is pure, God comes to dwell in it, making your heart another heaven.
To be wise is to be grateful for the past, confident in the present, and free of anxiety about the future. When we have God within us, we have no reason to fear. This is the point Jesus makes in today’s Gospel passage when the Pharisees ask about the coming of the kingdom of God.
Jesus says: “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” The kingdom of God happens when I make my heart pure enough for God to dwell. The kingdom of God is when I allow Him to reign in my life; I follow His commandments when walking according to His statutes.
The kingdom of God is me loving my neighbours as myself. The kingdom of God is me helping the poor and needy, treating people just as I expect to be treated. The kingdom of God is letting Jesus reign around me by following His teachings.
Remember that song: “The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, and the way to be happy is to make someone happy, and we’ll have a little heaven down here.”
Saint of the Day: We remember Saint Gertrude the Great today. Born on 6th January 1256 at Eisleben, she was raised in the Benedictine abbey of Saint Mary of Helfta. She excelled in literature and philosophy and became a Benedictine nun. At 26, when she had become too enamoured of philosophy, she received a vision of Christ who reproached her; from then on, she studied the Bible and the works of the Church Fathers. Gertrude received other visions and mystical instructions that formed her writings. She helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Theresa and St. Francis de Sales greatly praised her writings.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, make me wiser each day. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 32 in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Wisdom 7:22-8:1, Ps. 119:89-91,130,135,175, Luke 17:20-25).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu