Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

“For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 17:20-25

 

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, 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.”

 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees wanting to know “when the kingdom of God would come.” The Jews at the time of Christ were busy in anticipation of some great sign that would signify the coming of the Messiah. This anticipation for “the coming” sounds much like some of the Evangelical Ministers we see on TV today. So many of them preach that the end times are near or that we are in the time of the rapture. Jesus replied, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, … For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” In other words, Jesus is telling the Jews to stop looking for signs because the kingdom of God is already here. After responding to the Pharisees, he turns to his apostles and provides a prophecy about the next coming of the Son of Man, “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.” Jesus is telling us to stop worrying about the next coming of the Son of God, you will have no problem recognizing it. Everyone, good or evil, will know when the Son of God has arrived. There will be no question that he has arrived. It will be like one of those unexpected thunderstorms that builds with great expectations and finally unleashes its announcement by the trumpets of thunders and lighting dancing in the ski. At this time, all the world will be judged.  

 

Everyone who dies before the end of the world will find themselves before the Son of God. You will be judged immediately. Therefore, Jesus’ message is also one of individual preparation. Not only must we be worried about the salvation of the church, but we must be worried about our own salvation. Are you ready for your judgment? If you died today, what would Jesus think about your heart? Would it be pure or would it remain corrupt with hatefulness and concupiscence. When you examine your conscience at night, do you honestly judge your sins or are you focused on what others did to you. Pray for clarity in your examination so you can truly be sorrowful for your sins. “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you,” are you helping to reveal the kingdom?

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, have mercy on my soul.

You are my judge and my jury.

I bow down before you sorrowful for my transgressions.

Purify my heart so I can see the kingdom of God today.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon