THURSDAY, THIRTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Phlm 7-20 Ps 146: 7-10 Lk 17: 20-25
CHRIST IS OUR SURE HOPE
Paul, in his letter to Philemon, instructs us today of new relationships born out of Christian faith. Without directly attacking the system of slavery of the time, Paul brings forth forcefully the relationship of equality among Christians and the respective dignity of every human being created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, everyone is a brother or sister in the Lord.
The Gospels speak about the coming of the Kingdom and Jesus’ explanation of how to interpret the times and seasons. Jesus gives us a number of parables to understand the Kingdom of God. And in today’s gospel he says that the Kingdom of God is in our midst. This is aimed to remind us of Isaiah 61 which Jesus had read in the synagogue in Nazareth and also of Psalm 146. Jesus is the fulfillment of the coming of the Kingdom.
Jesus humbled himself and became man, bringing the Kingdom of God to earth. He makes atonement for our sins and gives us redemption as a gift by His rejection, suffering and death. In His resurrection, God exalts and glorifies him, and we who believe in Jesus now become part of the Kingdom, become God’s adopted children and part of His family. We are not just forgiven and restored, but shall be exalted with Jesus and reign with him (2 Tim 2:11-12). This is what Jesus speaks of when He speaks about the end of the ages. Jesus will come again in his glorified form. This will happen with lightning flashes and his exceeding glory will be over all the earth. He gives us a glimpse of His glorious self in the Transfiguration. Jesus reveals himself as God and invites us to walk with him. When Jesus explains these things to His disciples and to us, he aims to give us hope, hope in the love and mercy and help of God. He brings the Kingdom of God to us, brings us into the Kingdom of God and makes us heirs (Rom 8:17) who will reign with him.
Response: Blessed is he who is helped by Jacob’s God.
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