GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 10TH NOVEMBER 2016
THURSDAY OF THE 32ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF ST. LEO THE GREAT, POPE, DOCTOR)
1ST READING: Philemon 7-20
PSALM: Psalm 146:7-10
GOSPEL: Luke 17:20-25
THEME: IT TAKES WISDOM TO DISCOVER THE KINGDOM
I am sure many of us have had the experience of searching for hours unending, and sometimes days, for a missing item only to discover later that the supposedly missing object that sent us on a wild-goose chase was within our reach, perhaps lying somewhere on the table or in one of the drawers nearby. On one hand we breathe a sigh of relief for having found it but on the other hand we pity ourselves for having wasted time and energy searching for something which was just right within our purview.
In our Gospel text, Jesus tells the Pharisees, “The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, ‘Look, it is here! Look, it is there!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21).The expression, “the kingdom of God is in your midst” stresses the nearness of the kingdom and presupposes that the kingdom is within reach. In other words, you do not need to go somewhere far to find it.
Unfortunately, the search for the kingdom of God and the “treasures” it promises has led many to embark on a perilous and foolhardy journey. For example, in search of the kingdom, some have been robbed of colossal sums of money by charlatan pastors and fake men and women of God. Some have relied on “prophecies” that are as dangerous as those who gave them and taken decisions that have spelt their doom. In some cases, some have become victims of sexual abuse. For some, the search has brought about broken homes, husbands labelling their wives “witches” and wives labelling their husbands “wizards”. Some show gross disrespect and dishonour to their parents because they have been made to believe that their mothers or fathers are the cause of their woes. In some cases, the search has led some to leave their Holy Spirit-filled churches and they have joined sects that promise to offer them the kingdom but in reality are steeped in the practice of magic and other disdainful activities.
The truth is that many embark on the search for the kingdom without wisdom. When the grace of wisdom is at work in you, you would discover that the kingdom of God is closer to you than you are to your very self. Unless wisdom takes possession of you, you can never take possession of the kingdom of God. More than ever our generation needs wisdom; for lack of wisdom many are perishing. “If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you” (Jam 1:5).
Prayer: Spirit of the living God, we ask you to take away our folly and infuse us with the grace of wisdom. Take away the scales on our eyes and the wax in our ears that we may see what you see and hear what you hear. Lead us on the path of discovery and guide us to the door of the kingdom that Jesus offers to all who have faith in him. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).