Daily Readings - Thu Nov 16 2023
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 God's presence in our lives. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom describes Wisdom as a divine attribute, personified as a holy, all-pervasive, and life-giving force. It emphasizes Wisdom's role in understanding and guiding human affairs, highlighting her purity and power to renew all things. The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to Jesus' teaching about the Kingdom of God, which he describes as already present among us, though unseen. He warns against chasing after external signs or distractions, urging his disciples to recognize the Kingdom's presence within themselves.
Both readings share a common theme: the divine is not something distant or observable through outward signs, but rather it is a living, active presence that transforms us from within. Wisdom in the first reading is not just an abstract concept but a dynamic force that orders all things and dwells in holy souls. Similarly, the Kingdom of God in the Gospel is not a future event or a physical place, but a spiritual reality that already resides within those who seek it. Together, these readings remind us that our relationship with God is not about waiting for something to happen externally, but about cultivating an inner awareness of His presence and wisdom.
In our daily lives, this means we should seek God in the ordinary moments and in the depths of our own hearts. Like Wisdom, God's grace is ever-active, guiding us and renewing us if we are open to it. The moral lesson here is one of trust and interior conversion. We are called to live with the confidence that God is always with us, even when His presence is not overtly visible. By nurturing this faith, we can embrace the transformative power of His wisdom and live as true children of the Kingdom, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.