First Reading: Wisdom 7:22B-8:1
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do all things,
and renews everything while herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets.
For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
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.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:80, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Through all generations your truth endures;
you have established the earth, and it stands firm.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Gospel: Luke 17:20-25
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as 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 greatly and be rejected by this generation.”
"The Kingdom of God is among you."
Do you believe it? I mean really believe it? Do you believe really and truly that God's most holy and powerful Kingdom dwells within your being??
I wonder how my life would be different if I really believed this. I'd probably be kinder to myself. I probably wouldn't be so self-critical or judgmental. I probably wouldn't be so critical or judgmental of others. I'd probably be happier. If I believed the Kingdom of God were really within me, I'd probably be content to be present to that Kingdom. To just be. I'm sure I'd be better at living in the present moment. I'd be at peace.
Do we really believe the Kingdom of God is among us? Not just within our souls but also in the collective sense of the communities of our family, our friends, and those around us.
The Kingdom of God is here. Now. Do we have eyes to see it? Or are we constantly seeking the next thing? "Look, here it is! There it is!" our actions say over the latest idea, that additional person to follow, the newest thing you should do that claims to make you beautiful, fit, finally have it all together, and be completely liked and accepted by everyone. I think if we really believed the Kingdom of God is within us, our behaviors, attitudes, and actions might be a bit different than they are now.
In the First Reading, I can't help but want all those words about Wisdom to be a description of myself. "Intelligent, holy, unique, agile, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil . . . " all those words would make up one heck of a beautiful and strong woman!
We have the model of this woman in Mary, our Blessed Mother. For she truly is "the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness." Mother Mary guides us to have the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of God among us. She who carried Jesus Incarnate within her womb, can help us to see this Kingdom that also dwells within us. She can help us recognize and identify the beauty God has placed within each of us. She can help us live in the present moment. She can help us be at peace.
Do we really believe the Kingdom of God is among us?Click to tweet
How would your life be different if you believed God truly dwells within you? Would you experience more peace? What action can you take today to be more aware of God's presence within you?
Mary Catherine Craige is a lover of creativity and learning new things. When she is not guiding the development of young children through Montessori methods, you can find her behind her harp, taking an art class, dancing, or writing silly poems. You can find out more about her here.
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