GOSPEL REFLECTION, FRIDAY, WEEK 32 IN ORDINARY TIME, 14 NOVEMBER 2025

Luke 17:26-37.  Today’s gospel, like others as we approach Advent (two weeks away), are ominous and challenging.  They concern the coming of the Kingdom of God and divine judgement in the last days when Jesus comes again in glory as our judge.  In the immediately preceding few verses the Pharisees have asked Jesus when the Kingdom would come, likely trying to trap him by his answer.  Jesus told them that the Kingdom would not come with visible, earthly signs, for the Kingdom is already among them but they do not recognise it.  Jesus said, ‘the Kingdom of God is among you.’  Here there are two implications – the word translated as ‘among you’ can have two meanings.  It can mean ‘ the Kingdom of God is IN you,’ already in your hearts, your deepest and true selves, as a spiritual reality.  It can also mean ‘is among you,’ is a reality at the midst of human social and religious relationships.  It implies both are true at the same time because Jesus as King is already amongst us.  The Pharisees, so caught up in the external practices of religion, are unable to see and understand. 

Our gospel today concerns the second coming of Jesus Messiah, which we will continue to ponder right into the first part of Advent.  We have room to indicate only some of the meanings, because this text really requires extensive prayerful reflection.  There will be times when Christians will yearn for the Second Coming, for the coming of the Kingdom in its fullness, but it will come in God’s good time, not ours.  The coming of the Kingdom in human hearts will produce NEW PEOPLE, NOT NEW EARTHLY THINGS.  The Kingdom is already among us because Jesus the King is already present among us, but not yet in its fullness.  Jesus, in his own being, is the embodiment of the Kingdom; some will recognise and know that, some will not.  God the Father will bring Jesus again among us, will bring the Kingdom in its fullness,  at a time we cannot know, but we must remain alert for his coming because it can come swiftly at a time we are prepared for, or at a time we are not.  We must live in hope and expectation that the Kingdom WILL come in its fullness, with all that follows from it.  That is what we reflect upon in the first part of Advent, which is almost upon us.