The gospel for Thursday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time is taken from Luke 17:25th verse. 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 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 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. It’s so important for us to understand what the kingdom of God is.

It is not something that is not present now and will someday be present. It is now. It is happening. It is in our midst. It is God’s presence within you, drawing us closer and closer to the fullness of salvation. Please take a few moments to reflect on these thoughts.

And then I will close with a prayer. The closing prayer. Father, awaken us to the truth of the Kingdom of God. It is where you are. It is when you are believed in. Is when we see the world through your eyes.

When we know what it is that we’re called to live. And we are living it. Bless us with an awareness that the kingdom is now. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.