Look no further than your neighbor for the Kingdom of God

Memorial of St. Josephat
Wisdom 7:22b–8:1
Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
Luke 17:20-25

"No one will announce, 'Look, here it is. . ."

Jesus speaks a hard truth here that's difficult to understand in many ways. How many have we heard who have told us that the end was near, the second coming loomed, the millennium was upon us. Jesus said that no one would announce His second coming; and that is true. Everyone who has done so, has been wrong.

We aren't called to think about the time of His return, and this for very good reason. Were we to focus on his eventual return it would deflect our attention from His presence among us. He is with us now. He is with us when we reflect on Scripture. His Real Presence makes the eucharistic feast a feast indeed! He is present in the poor. He is present in the rich. He is present in every person who loves Him. Why, then, do we look for something else?

We do so because we are a people of immediate gratification. We want what we want, when we want it. We want Jesus to return. Certainly that is a noble sentiment. If we desire it greatly enough, then we should do our part in bringing the kingdom to life. Rather than waiting with bated breath, we should reach out to those around us. When we reach out in His love, we spread the borders of His kingdom.

We will not know when it is coming. We won't know this because it is already at hand, near enough to touch. When we realize this, the second coming, whenever it may be, recedes in immediate importance. It is the event we look forward to in joyful hope even as we live in the Kingdom God has given us.