10
Nov
Nov
Reflection: Luke 17: 20-25
Jesus says, “The reign of God is already in your midst”. It is in the very person of Jesus, – the Messiah – King. The reign of God is revealed in his teaching, in his many healings of the sick, in his freeing of people from the power of evil spirits and in his compassion for the sinners and the outcast. Yes, this is Emmanuel – God “in their midst”. Pope Francis explains this passage by saying that “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 there 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 in the midst of weeds, the Pope said. “The Kingdom of God is not a spectacle”. We should remember that making a show of power or might was one of the three temptations that 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 voice of the devil is heard again: “If you are the Son of God, come down from the Cross!” However, the Kingdom of God is silent, it grows within; but it grows slowly and silently. How often do we fall into the temptation of having a spectacular show of power in the Church? Pope recommends a brief examination of conscience to avoid falling into the temptation of this show of power, by asking 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, why don’t you go to Mass, and why do you not take Communion, so that his Kingdom may “grow” within you? Pope renews the challenge before the people of God, that we do not to fall into 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?”.