20Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!' or `There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. 23And they will say to you, `Lo, there!' or `Lo, here!' Do not go, do not follow them. 24For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day. 25But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
In essence, this passage teaches that the Kingdom is both a present reality and a future hope. Jesus invites us to recognize God’s presence and work within and around us right now, while also understanding that the fullness of God’s Kingdom will be realized in his future, undeniable, obvious and very public return. This teaching calls for a faith that actively looks for God’s Kingdom here and now, in acts of love, justice, and transformation, while also trusting in the promise of its ultimate fulfillment. It remiss me a little of the reading where Jesus proclaims something like “Why be in preparation mode for the saviour when he is already here with you? You should be celebrating”. Loving God, use Christ in me to bring joy to the world. Amen.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection beautifully captures the essence of Luke 17:20-25. Recognizing the Kingdom as both a present reality and a future hope is central to understanding Jesus’ message here. By focusing on the here and now—on living out acts of love, justice, and transformation—you echo Jesus’ call to embrace God’s Kingdom actively, rather than simply awaiting a future event.
DeleteJesus indeed challenged those around him to recognize that the Saviour was already in their midst, calling for celebration, change, and faith-filled action rather than passive waiting. This passage can be a reminder for us, too, not to defer our faith journey or wait for a perfect time to live out Christ’s teachings. The Kingdom grows through our every moment of compassion and truth, and your prayer captures that desire to embody Christ's joy and love in all you do. Thank you for sharing this reflection—it's a message that speaks directly to living fully in the presence of God here and now.