Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Thursday, 13 November 2014

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Thursday, 13 November 2014
Meditation: Luke 17: When the Son of Man Arrives
20-21 Jesus, grilled by the Pharisees on when the kingdom of God would come, answered, “The kingdom of God doesn’t come by counting the days on the calendar. Nor when someone says, ‘Look here!’ or, ‘There it is!’ And why? Because God’s kingdom is already among you.”
22-24 He went on to say to his disciples, “The days are coming when you are going to be desperately homesick for just a glimpse of one of the days of the Son of Man, and you won’t see a thing. And they’ll say to you, ‘Look over there!’ or, ‘Look here!’ Don’t fall for any of that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes.
24-25 “You know how the whole sky lights up from a single flash of lightning? That’s how it will be on the Day of the Son of Man. But first it’s necessary that he suffer many things and be turned down by the people of today.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

The Kingdom of God is among you. (Luke 17:21)

“Wait!” said one Pharisee to another. “Is he saying that the kingdom of God is already here? What about the Romans and their empire? We’re still an occupied nation. This sure doesn’t feel like the kingdom of God!” Looking around at our world, we might come to a similar conclusion. But the kingdom of God is not about a location or even the regime in power; it’s about a new way of relating to one another that brings healing and freedom.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he didn’t just talk about the kingdom of God. He also demonstrated it as he blessed, loved, forgave, healed, and served the people he was speaking to. His own witness demonstrated the kingdom: he didn’t hold any grudges, put on airs, or distance himself from the poor and the marginzlized. In fact, he went out of his way to welcome them and show them God’s mercy. He also taught about this way of relating through parables that prioritized forgiveness over revenge, service over being served, and sacrificial love over self-serving arrogance.

Think about your relationships in this light. There is probably more of the kingdom of God in your midst than you think! Every time you hug your child, call a friend, help out in your parish, or do the dishes (with or without complaining), the kingdom of God is there. Whenever you pray, it is there. It’s present every time you choose to love the people around you, even when they’re not being particularly lovable.

That’s encouraging, isn’t it? The kingdom of God is among you.

Today, think about how you can bring the kingdom of God into just one relationship. Look for one opportunity to encourage someone, to forgive, or to be an instrument of God’s presence. It doesn’t have to be dramatic and life changing. It just has to be upbuilding and life affirming. You are a citizen of this kingdom, an ambassador for Christ. Because of that, you can bring his presence wherever you go. You can make a difference!

“Thank you, Lord, for making me a citizen of your kingdom. Empower me to be a blessing to everyone I meet today.” Amen!

Philemon 4-7 Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, “Oh, thank you, God!” I keep hearing of the love and faith you have for the Master Jesus, which brims over to other believers. And I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. Friend, you have no idea how good your love makes me feel, doubly so when I see your hospitality to fellow believers.
To Call the Slave Your Friend
8-9 In line with all this I have a favor to ask of you. As Christ’s ambassador and now a prisoner for him, I wouldn’t hesitate to command this if I thought it necessary, but I’d rather make it a personal request.
10-14 While here in jail, I’ve fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter—Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he’s useful to both of us. I’m sending him back to you, but it feels like I’m cutting off my right arm in doing so. I wanted in the worst way to keep him here as your stand-in to help out while I’m in jail for the Message. But I didn’t want to do anything behind your back, make you do a good deed that you hadn’t willingly agreed to.
15-16 Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.
17-20 So if you still consider me a comrade-in-arms, welcome him back as you would me. If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account. This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?) Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.
Psalm 146:3-9 Don’t put your life in the hands of experts
    who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don’t have what it takes;
    when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
    put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
    sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
    he defends the wronged,
    he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
    he gives sight to the blind,
    he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
    takes the side of orphans and widows,
    but makes short work of the wicked.
10 God’s in charge—always.
    Zion’s God is God for good!
    Hallelujah!
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