Thursday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
God’s Kingdom Is Among Us
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
The author of the book of Wisdom gives high praise to wisdom. She is personified; she is like a spirit that moves. She is like the breath of God that orders all things well.
To the Pharisees and perhaps to the disciples too, anxiously looking for signs, Jesus says: The kingdom of God is among you, right in your midst. It is already present in our lives. In other words, be wise and be committed to the present, to building up God’s kingdom now. Seek eternity and eternal life in the present, and God’s good day will come in God’s good time.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
your kingdom is not an established order
but something that is alive and always coming.
Make us aware that it is to be found
where we let you reign,
where we and the kingdom of people
give way to your kingdom,
where we let your justice and love and peace
take the place of our fumbling and stumbling.
Lord, establish your kingdom among us
through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
R. (89a) Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Your word, O LORD, endures forever;
it is firm as the heavens.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Through all generations your truth endures;
you have established the earth, and it stands firm.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
R. Your word is for ever, O Lord.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would arrive. He replied:
“The kingdom of God is not like something you can see,
and say of it, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘See, there it is!’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
And Jesus told his disciples:
“The time is near when you will long to see one of the glorious days of the Son of Man, but you will not get to see it.
Then people will tell you, ‘Look over there! Look here!’ ‘Do not go with them, do not follow them.’
As lightning flashes from one end of the sky to the other, so will it be with the Son of Man;
but first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For the Church, which is not yet the kingdom, that it may be a visible sign of God’s kingdom on earth by its openness to all, its spirit of love and service, we pray:
– That all Christians may contribute to make the Gospel credible by our commitment to justice and love, we pray:
– That we may build roads of peace and service to one another and that we may prepare ourselves and the world to welcome Jesus and the kingdom of God, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
if we let you reign in us
rather than our self-will
or the people and things around us,
we would recognize that there is
a holy communion of love between you and us.
Come among us in Christ,
in this Eucharist and in daily life,
and take possession of us
to rule and forgive, to sanctify and enlighten,
to order all things for the good of all
and to renew us by your grace.
Grant us this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Loving and all-wise Father,
in this Eucharistic celebration,
you have again given us Jesus, your Son.
Through his Spirit of wisdom,
make us fully aware
that our human personality and existence
and people and events around us
are the way in which you call us
and in which we respond to your call.
Develop your kingdom among us
through him who is in our midst,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
Blessing
The kingdom of God is among us. It is here if we have accepted Christ and let him light up our lives, in realities that are not so directly measurable: justice, forgiveness, love, peace, goodness. May Almighty God help us to build up this kingdom with Christ, our Lord and bless you for this task, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
13 November 2025
Luke 17:20-25
Remaining faithful to the Call
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. They expected signs, something visible, even spectacular. But Jesus’ answer is disarming: “The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed… For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is among you.”
Here lies the challenge. God’s Kingdom is not about outward displays or cosmic signs—it is about hearts transformed by love. It is not a revolution of politics or structures, but a revolution of people renewed in Christ. The Kingdom is already present wherever faith, forgiveness, and charity are lived.
With the Word alive in us, with his compassion, with his love, the reign of God has already broken into the world. Yet the Pharisees, who longed for God’s rule, failed to recognise him standing before them. How often do we too overlook God’s presence because it comes in the most ordinary ways, quietly, simply, and humbly?
Jesus then warns his disciples about the longing, even impatience, as the Church cries out, “How long, O Lord?” However, the timing is not something we can determine. What matters is not speculation or chasing after false signs, but remaining faithful to our daily vocation.
The Kingdom, then, is both already and not yet. Already here in Christ, in the sacraments, in the love we share. Not yet in its fullness, which we await with patience and hope. Our task is to live today as citizens of that Kingdom—finding God in the ordinary, welcoming his presence among us, and preparing our hearts for the day when Christ will come again in glory.
God's Kingdom is not a show
Jesus says, “The reign of God is already in your midst”. Christ's teachings, his many healings of the sick, his release of people from evil spirits and his compassion for sinners and outcasts reveal the reign of God. Yes, this is Emmanuel - God “in their midst”.
Pope Francis explains this passage by saying, “Do not give in to the temptation of thinking that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle, like those who make a pageant of their wedding, turning it into a showplace for vanity and an opportunity to be seen. Instead, it is already present in the everyday holiness, lived unseen by the families. The Kingdom of God will grow like wheat, not surrounded by things of beauty but amid weeds," the Pope said.
“The Kingdom of God is not a spectacle”. A display of power or might was one of the three temptations Jesus faced in the desert. That temptation accompanied him throughout his life – the temptation to show a spectacle – so that everyone might believe! Even on the Cross, the devil's voice was heard again: “If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross!” However, the Kingdom of God grows within, but slowly and silently.
Do we fall into the temptation of showing off our power in the Church too often? The Pope renews the challenge before the people of God that we do not succumb to the temptation of giving a show before the world, especially in celebrating sacraments. While celebrating weddings, in particular, couples must discern whether they “have come to receive a sacrament, to have a feast like at Cana in Galilee, or to have a pageant, to be looked at, for vanity?”.
The Pope recommends a brief examination of conscience by asking ourselves a few simple questions:
“Are you a Christian?" Yes! Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Yes! Do you believe in the Sacraments? Yes! Do you believe that Jesus is there and that He has come here now? If your answer is “Yes”, then why don’t you go to adore Him in the Mass, and why do you not take Communion so that His Kingdom may “grow” within you?
14 November 2024
Discerning God’s will
In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the Pharisees on the coming of God’s Kingdom, offering a vision that challenges traditional expectations. The Pharisees thought the Kingdom would appear dramatically as an outcome of perfect adherence to the Law. They anticipated the Messiah's arrival to be marked by a great spectacle, hailed as a mighty king. In contrast, Jesus reveals an unexpected reality: the Kingdom of God exists already within us, intricately integrated into our everyday lives and does not depend on human actions or achievements.
The Kingdom’s presence, as Jesus teaches, cannot be observed outwardly or in specific locations. Rather, it's a concealed truth, thriving in gratitude, love, and acts of kindness that often go unnoticed. In these modest instances, the Kingdom unveils itself as a deep mystery that surpasses worldly anticipations.
Looking to the future, Jesus warns of those who might deceive the believers, claiming to know the precise time or place of His return. He teaches that the Day of the Son of Man will come suddenly and unmistakably, “like lightning flashing across the sky.” In times of trial and despair, the apocalyptic language used by Jesus helps us maintain hope and understand that God remains in control, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. Though the journey may pass through hardship and suffering, God's plans will reach fulfilment.
Finally, Jesus underscores that the path to glory inevitably includes the Cross, a truth central to our faith. Just as Jesus endured suffering, we are called to bear our own crosses. Through these challenges, we are invited to deepen our trust in God and find evidence of His Kingdom within our own lives, communities and in acts of compassion and faithfulness around us.