Reading 1
Phlm 7-20
Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.
Ps 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10
Responsorial PsalmR. (5a)
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 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.”
Meditation: Luke 17:20-25
When is the kingdom of God coming? “Open your eyes, says Jesus. The kingdom of God is already here. The sick are being healed (Luke 17:11-19). Sinners are returning to God (15:1-7). Bread and fish are multiplied to feed a crowd (9:11-17) Even a dead child is brought back to life (8:49-55).”
But what kind of kingdom is this where your life is in danger and you warn your followers to expect the same?
My child, your notion of the enemy is too limited. My death and resurrection are the way my Father has chosen to break the power of darkness and destroy death forever.
I know you have risen victorious over death, Jesus, but so much darkness remains in this world you love! People are wounded or killed every day in acts of violence. Innocent children are sexually exploited. Mysterious diseases still cripple bodies and minds. Where is your kingdom?
The seeds of the kingdom are already within you, implanted by your baptism. Like the Samaritan leper, return to me and pour out your gratitude for what I have already given you.
But surely you don’t intend for this precious gift to remain hidden in my heart when the world so desperately needs it!
Right! The seeds I have planted in you are ready for a growth explosion; they must break through and become visible, a lifeline for all to grasp. But this is not a solo task. My kingdom is among you. My kingdom becomes tangible in the love between you and your brother. My kingdom happens as you encourage each other and work together. It becomes real as you reach out to the poor and those enemies I long to transform into friends. Where do you see me at work? What small, concrete contribution do I need from you today to further this work?
When is your kingdom coming?
It’s up to you. Just as St. Paul refused to impose his will on Philemon, I am entrusting my kingdom to your freedom. In your baptism I have given you all the tools you need to build that kingdom of light. Can I count on you?
Closing Prayer:
“King of heaven and earth, your gracious gift has made me a child of your kingdom. I freely accept your invitation to extend that kingdom to everyone I meet.”
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