Daily Readings - Thu Nov 11 2021
Luke
20Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,21nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."22And 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.23And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them.24For 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.25But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of wisdom and the presence of God’s kingdom in our lives. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we encounter a beautiful hymn to wisdom, portrayed as a divine, life-giving force that permeates all creation. Wisdom is described as holy, manifold, and ever-active, a pure emanation of God’s virtue. She is the brightness of eternal light, the mirror of God’s majesty, and the image of his goodness. This passage emphasizes that wisdom is not just an abstract concept but a living, dynamic presence that renews all things and dwells in the hearts of the righteous.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and his disciples about the kingdom of God. He challenges their expectations, insisting that the kingdom does not arrive with observable signs or fanfare. Instead, he says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This statement shifts our focus from external events to the interior life of faith. Jesus warns against being misled by false claims of the kingdom’s arrival, urging his followers to remain steadfast and not be swayed by distractions. The kingdom, he suggests, is already present in a hidden way, much like the subtle but transformative presence of wisdom in the first reading.
Together, these readings call us to cultivate an inner awareness of God’s presence and wisdom. They remind us that true wisdom and the kingdom of God are not things we can grasp or observe from afar but are instead the fruit of a deep, personal relationship with God. As we navigate the challenges of daily life, we are invited to seek wisdom in prayer, to trust in God’s providence, and to recognize the kingdom of God at work in the world around us. May we open our hearts to the gentle yet powerful presence of God’s wisdom and allow it to transform us, that we may live as true friends and prophets of God.