Daily Readings - Thu Nov 11 2021
Luke
20Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,21nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."22Then he said to his disciples, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.23Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them.24For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.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.