Luke 17:20-25

Wisdom 7:22b-8:1

Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175

Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,

Jesus said in reply,

“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,

and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’

For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,

“The days will come when you will long to see

one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

There will be those who will say to you,

‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’

Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.

For just as lightning flashes

and lights up the sky from one side to the other,

so will the Son of Man be in his day.

But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I long to see your face. By sending your Son, you have revealed your face and the depths of your merciful love. I pray in earnest for the glorious return of your Son to bring all things to fulfillment.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Mystery of the Kingdom: The Pharisees have heard Jesus speak about the Kingdom of God. In fact, Jesus speaks about the Kingdom over 90 times in the Gospels. The Pharisees want to know when the Kingdom of God would come. They were likely interpreting the prophecies about the restoration of David’s Kingdom in a political fashion. They wanted to see the overthrow of Roman rule over them. They wanted to see a descendant of David on the throne in Jerusalem. They wanted to see the military power and economic wealth that come with earthly kingdoms. But Jesus corrects them: “The coming of the Kingdom cannot be observed… For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21). This highlights the mysterious dimension of the Kingdom. It is present, yet is still coming. It is invisible, yet we can “behold” it. The Kingdom of God means God’s reign over all creation. It is present in Jesus Christ and his Church. It is a reality that is both spiritual and physical, invisible and visible. It has its beginning in the Church, it will develop and grow throughout the centuries, but will only be definitively established at the end of time. We receive a foretaste of the Kingdom in the Eucharist, and yet raise our eyes toward heaven at each Mass and pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” and “Thy Kingdom Come!”

2. The Attributes of Wisdom: In the First Reading, we read from a section that explains how wisdom forms the foundation for the life of the righteous. It envisions King Solomon speaking about the mystery of wisdom, its nature, and its attributes. Solomon reminds his audience how he prayed for wisdom in his youth and how it was granted to him (Wisdom 7:7-14). Now, he asks God to grant him eloquence to speak about her (Wisdom 7:15). The spirit of wisdom is described with 21 attributes in three sets of seven. The first seven describe the spirit of wisdom as “intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, and clear.” The second set of seven attributes describes wisdom as “unstained, certain, not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, and beneficent.” The third set describes the spirit of wisdom as “kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, and pervading all spirits.” The Hellenistic school of philosophy known as Stoicism often described the Logos or world-spirit with such qualities. What the author does here is ascribe these attributes or qualities not to a pagan god, goddess, or pantheistic spirit, but to the very wisdom of God. The spirit of divine wisdom is not indifferent to humanity, but loves the good, is kind and beneficent toward the righteous. These qualities also point in a hidden way to the personhood of divine wisdom.  

3. The Agility and Universality of Wisdom: The author goes on to explore some of the attributes just listed. The first is that of agility: “Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion.” Unlike physical things that tend to move slowly through time and space, wisdom acts quickly in a way beyond physical motion and more like a spiritual action. And unlike physical things, which do not penetrate and pervade one another, wisdom pervades all things. “She comes forth from God like breath, light, or water, a pure emanation flowing out from his eternal being” (Giszczak, Wisdom of Solomon, 90). In the light of the New Testament, we hear a veiled revelation of the eternal procession of God’s Word. In the fullness of time, Jesus will reveal himself as the Incarnate Word (Logos), who eternally proceeds from the Father. Divine Wisdom is one, can do all things, and renews everything. As Jesus says, “I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of all things. “Indeed, [Wisdom] reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well” (Wisdom 8:1).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me understand the mysteries of the Kingdom. Teach me to welcome the reign of God with humility, to work in the Kingdom of God with love, and to work to extend it in my family and community.

Living the Word of God: How do I treat the members of my parish? Do I truly see and treat each one of them as a brother and a sister? Do I need to get to know them better, attend parish events more frequently, or be more hospitable?