Daily Mass Reflections - 11/15
“It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man, and man to God”
It is these words by Saint Albert the Great, whose Feast Day we celebrate today, that coincidentally provide us with our lead-in to today’s Gospel (Luke 17:20-25). Perhaps there are no coincidences.
When asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus tells them that the Kingdom of God is in fact at hand...and still yet to come. This is one of those spiritually enigmatic concepts that can be difficult to understand, much like the sacrifice of Isaac or the Holy Trinity, a mystery if you will.
But let’s aside for a moment the complexity of this notion and instead focus on its confounding nature. After all, this sure doesn’t feel like the Kingdom of God. Who would’ve thought that the Kingdom could be so messy, at times even tragic?
But the Kingdom of God isn’t really about a physical location, or the temporary state of affairs in a finite world where we as children of God are instead made for eternity. It‘s about a new way of relating to one another, a path rooted in the love and charity that Saint Albert speaks of, a path rooted in the teachings that were made manifest and came to fruition during Jesus’ ministry.
We can promote the Kingdom of God in our daily lives as well, and we do so whenever we let go of a grudge, or resist spreading gossip, or maybe even take a moment to ask an unpopular coworker about their weekend. As citizens of this Kingdom, we are ambassadors for Christ, a role that is far more important than any other we could assume in our workplace or social circles.
The Gospels are so vital to our spiritual and religious growth because they reflect the example that Jesus left us when he walked this Earth. By seeking to emulate him, we can truly bring his presence with us wherever we go.
“Dear Jesus, inspire the faithful to bring you with us in all that we do, so that we can fulfill our role as your ambassador in a world that so desperately needs your presence” ~ Amen
