Daily Readings - Thu Nov 16 2017
First Reading - Wisdom 7.22 – 8.1
Wisdom
22For in her is the spirit of understanding: holy, singular, manifold, subtle, perceptive, lively, chaste, reliable, gracious, loving, good, astute, who forbids nothing beneficial23humane, kind, steadfast, trustworthy, secure, having all virtue, watching for all things and grasping all things with a pure and most delicate understanding of spirit24For wisdom is more active than all active things, yet she reaches everywhere because of her purity25For she is a breath of the virtue of God and a genuine emanation from the purity of the almighty God, and therefore nothing unclean can invade her26Indeed, she is the brightness of eternal light, and the unspotted mirror of the majesty of God, and the image of his goodness27And though she is one, she can do all things; and, unchanging in herself, she renews all things, and throughout the nations she conveys herself to holy souls, establishing them as friends and prophets of God28For God loves none but those who dwell with wisdom29For she is more spectacular than the sun, and above the array of all the stars; compared with the light, she is found to be before it30Indeed, after her comes night, but wisdom will not be overcome by malice
Gospel - Luke 17.20-25
Luke
20Then he was questioned by the Pharisees: "When does the kingdom of God arrive?" And in response, he said to them: "The kingdom of God arrives unobserved21And so, they will not say, ‘Behold, it is here,’ or ‘Behold, it is there.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.22And he said to his disciples: "The time will come when you will desire to see one day of the Son of man, and you will not see it23And they will say to you, ‘Behold, he is here,’ and ‘Behold, he is there.’ Do not choose to go out, and do not follow them24For just as lightning flashes from under heaven and shines to whatever is under heaven, so also will the Son of man be in his day25But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the divine presence that dwells within us and the world around us. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom describes Wisdom as a divine spirit, holy, manifold, and all-pervasive. It emphasizes that Wisdom is not just an abstract concept but a living, active force that orders all things sweetly and reaches mightily from one end of creation to the other. Wisdom is the very breath of God’s virtue, the brightness of eternal light, and the image of his goodness. This passage reminds us that God’s wisdom is not distant or unapproachable but is intimately present in all things, guiding and renewing them.
The Gospel reading from Luke shifts our focus to the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom does not arrive with observable signs or fanfare. It is not something we will find by looking “here” or “there.” Instead, the Kingdom of God is within us. This teaching challenges us to look inward, to recognize that God’s reign is already at work in our hearts and lives. Jesus also warns his disciples against being deceived by false claims about the Kingdom’s arrival. Just as lightning illuminates the entire sky, the Son of Man will manifest in his own time, but first, he must suffer and be rejected. This passage calls us to patience, faith, and trust in God’s timing, even in the face of suffering or uncertainty.
Together, these readings remind us that God’s presence and wisdom are not something we need to seek far off. They are already with us, within us, and at work in the world. The Book of Wisdom encourages us to embrace the divine wisdom that orders all things, while the Gospel invites us to recognize the Kingdom of God in our midst. As we go about our daily lives, let us seek to cultivate this inward awareness. May we trust in God’s presence, allowing his wisdom to guide us and his Kingdom to take root in our hearts. In doing so, we will find the peace and grace to live as faithful disciples, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainties.