Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 17
20.	And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come? he answered them, and said: The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:	Interrogatus autem a pharisÃ¦is : Quando venit regnum Dei ? respondens eis, dixit : Non venit regnum Dei cum observatione :	ÎµÏ€ÎµÏÏ‰Ï„Î·Î¸ÎµÎ¹Ï‚ Î´Îµ Ï…Ï€Î¿ Ï„Ï‰Î½ Ï†Î±ÏÎ¹ÏƒÎ±Î¹Ï‰Î½ Ï€Î¿Ï„Îµ ÎµÏÏ‡ÎµÏ„Î±Î¹ Î· Î²Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¹Î± Ï„Î¿Ï… Î¸ÎµÎ¿Ï… Î±Ï€ÎµÎºÏÎ¹Î¸Î· Î±Ï…Ï„Î¿Î¹Ï‚ ÎºÎ±Î¹ ÎµÎ¹Ï€ÎµÎ½ Î¿Ï…Îº ÎµÏÏ‡ÎµÏ„Î±Î¹ Î· Î²Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¹Î± Ï„Î¿Ï… Î¸ÎµÎ¿Ï… Î¼ÎµÏ„Î± Ï€Î±ÏÎ±Ï„Î·ÏÎ·ÏƒÎµÏ‰Ï‚
21.	Neither shall they say: Behold here, or behold there. For lo, the kingdom of God is within you.	neque dicent : Ecce hic, aut ecce illic. Ecce enim regnum Dei intra vos est.	Î¿Ï…Î´Îµ ÎµÏÎ¿Ï…ÏƒÎ¹Î½ Î¹Î´Î¿Ï… Ï‰Î´Îµ Î· Î¹Î´Î¿Ï… ÎµÎºÎµÎ¹ Î¹Î´Î¿Ï… Î³Î±Ï Î· Î²Î±ÏƒÎ¹Î»ÎµÎ¹Î± Ï„Î¿Ï… Î¸ÎµÎ¿Ï… ÎµÎ½Ï„Î¿Ï‚ Ï…Î¼Ï‰Î½ ÎµÏƒÏ„Î¹Î½
22.	And he said to his disciples: The days will come, when you shall desire to see one day of the Son of man; and you shall not see it.	Et ait ad discipulos suos : Venient dies quando desideretis videre unum diem Filii hominis, et non videbitis.	ÎµÎ¹Ï€ÎµÎ½ Î´Îµ Ï€ÏÎ¿Ï‚ Ï„Î¿Ï…Ï‚ Î¼Î±Î¸Î·Ï„Î±Ï‚ ÎµÎ»ÎµÏ…ÏƒÎ¿Î½Ï„Î±Î¹ Î·Î¼ÎµÏÎ±Î¹ Î¿Ï„Îµ ÎµÏ€Î¹Î¸Ï…Î¼Î·ÏƒÎµÏ„Îµ Î¼Î¹Î±Î½ Ï„Ï‰Î½ Î·Î¼ÎµÏÏ‰Î½ Ï„Î¿Ï… Ï…Î¹Î¿Ï… Ï„Î¿Ï… Î±Î½Î¸ÏÏ‰Ï€Î¿Ï… Î¹Î´ÎµÎ¹Î½ ÎºÎ±Î¹ Î¿Ï…Îº Î¿ÏˆÎµÏƒÎ¸Îµ
23.	And they will say to you: See here, and see there. Go ye not after, nor follow them:	Et dicent vobis : Ecce hic, et ecce illic. Nolite ire, neque sectemini :	ÎºÎ±Î¹ ÎµÏÎ¿Ï…ÏƒÎ¹Î½ Ï…Î¼Î¹Î½ Î¹Î´Î¿Ï… Ï‰Î´Îµ Î· Î¹Î´Î¿Ï… ÎµÎºÎµÎ¹ Î¼Î· Î±Ï€ÎµÎ»Î¸Î·Ï„Îµ Î¼Î·Î´Îµ Î´Î¹Ï‰Î¾Î·Ï„Îµ
24.	For as the lightening that lighteneth from under heaven, shineth unto the parts that are under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day.	nam, sicut fulgur coruscans de sub cÃ¦lo in ea quÃ¦ sub cÃ¦lo sunt, fulget : ita erit Filius hominis in die sua.	Ï‰ÏƒÏ€ÎµÏ Î³Î±Ï Î· Î±ÏƒÏ„ÏÎ±Ï€Î· Î· Î±ÏƒÏ„ÏÎ±Ï€Ï„Î¿Ï…ÏƒÎ± ÎµÎº Ï„Î·Ï‚ Ï…Ï€ Î¿Ï…ÏÎ±Î½Î¿Î½ ÎµÎ¹Ï‚ Ï„Î·Î½ Ï…Ï€ Î¿Ï…ÏÎ±Î½Î¿Î½ Î»Î±Î¼Ï€ÎµÎ¹ Î¿Ï…Ï„Ï‰Ï‚ ÎµÏƒÏ„Î±Î¹ Î¿ Ï…Î¹Î¿Ï‚ Ï„Î¿Ï… Î±Î½Î¸ÏÏ‰Ï€Î¿Ï… ÎµÎ½ Ï„Î· Î·Î¼ÎµÏÎ± Î±Ï…Ï„Î¿Ï…
25.	But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected by this generation.	Primum autem oportet illum multa pati, et reprobari a generatione hac.	Ï€ÏÏ‰Ï„Î¿Î½ Î´Îµ Î´ÎµÎ¹ Î±Ï…Ï„Î¿Î½ Ï€Î¿Î»Î»Î± Ï€Î±Î¸ÎµÎ¹Î½ ÎºÎ±Î¹ Î±Ï€Î¿Î´Î¿ÎºÎ¹Î¼Î±ÏƒÎ¸Î·Î½Î±Î¹ Î±Ï€Î¿ Ï„Î·Ï‚ Î³ÎµÎ½ÎµÎ±Ï‚ Ï„Î±Ï…Ï„Î·Ï‚

The Greek is broken since Oct 29.

20. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation:
21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

CYRIL; Because our Savior, in His discourses which He addressed to others, spoke often of the kingdom of God, the Pharisees derided Him; hence it is said, And when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God should come. As though they said tauntingly, "Before the kingdom of God come, which you speak of, the death of the cross will be your lot." But our Lord testifying His patience, when reviled reviles not again, but the rather because they were evil, returns not a scornful answer; for it follows, He answered and said, The kingdom comes not with observation; as if he says, "Seek not to know the time when the kingdom of heaven shall again be at hand. For that time can be observed neither by men nor angels, not as the time of the Incarnation which was proclaimed by the foretelling of Prophets and the heraldings of Angels." Wherefore He adds, Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! Or else, They ask about the kingdom of God, because, as is said below, they thought that on our Lord's coming into Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would be immediately manifested. Therefore our Lord answers, that the kingdom of God will not come with observation.

CYRIL; Now it is only for the benefit of each individual that He says that which follows, For behold the kingdom of God is within you; that is, it rests with you and your own hearts to receive it. For every man who is justified by faith and the grace of God, and adorned with virtues, may obtain the kingdom of heaven.

GREG. NYSS.. Or, perhaps, the kingdom of God being within us, means that joy that is implanted in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. For that is, as it were, the image and pledge of the everlasting joy with which in the world to come the souls of the Saints rejoice.

BEDE; Or the kingdom of God means that He Himself is placed in the midst of them, that is, reigning in their hearts by faith.

22. And he said to the disciples, The days will come, when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you shall not see it.
23. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
24. For as the lightning, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
25. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

CYRIL; When our Lord said, The kingdom of God is within you, He would fain prepare His disciples for suffering, that being made strong they might be able to enter the kingdom of God; He therefore foretells to them, that before His coming from heaven at the end of the world, persecution will break out upon them. Hence it follows, And he said to the disciples, The days will come, &c. meaning that so terrible will be the persecution, that they would desire to see one of His days, that is, of that time when they yet walked with Christ. Truly the Jews ofttimes beset Christ with reproaches and insults, and sought to stone Him, and ofttimes would have hurled Him down film the mountain; but even these seem to be looked upon as slight in comparison of greater evils that are to come.

THEOPHYL. For their life was then without trouble, for Christ took care of them and protected them. But the time was coming when Christ should be taken away, and they should be exposed to perils, being brought before kings and princes, and then they should long for the first time and its tranquillity.

BEDE; Or, by the day of Christ He signifies His kingdom, which we hope will come, and He lightly says, one day, because there shall no darkness disturb the glory of that blessed time. It is right then to long for the day of Christ, yet from the earnestness of our longing, let us not vision to ourselves as though the day were at hand. Hence it follows, And they shall say to you, Lo here! and, Lo there!

EUSEB. As if he said, If at the coming of Antichrist, his fame shall be spread abroad, as though Christ had appeared, go not out, nor follow him. For it cannot be that He who was once seen on earth, shall any more dwell in the corners of the earth. It will therefore be he of whom we speak, not the true Christ. For this is the clear sign of the second coming of our Savior, that suddenly the luster of His coming shall fill the whole world; and so it follows, For as the lightning that lightens, &c. For He will not appear walking upon the earth, as any common man, but will illuminate our whole universe, manifesting to all men the radiance of His divinity.

BEDE; And he well says, that lightens out of the one part under heaven, because the judgment will be given under the heaven, that is, in the midst of the air, as the Apostle says, We shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. But if the Lord shall appear at the Judgment like lightning, then shall no one remain hidden in the deep of his heart, for the very brightness of the Judge pierces through him; we may also take this answer of our Lord to refer to His coming, whereby He comes daily into His Church. For ofttimes have heretics so vexed the Church, by saying that the faith of Christ stands in their own dogma, that the faithful in those times longed that the Lord would if it were possible even for one day return to the earth, and Himself make known what was the true faith. And you shall not see it, because it need not that the Lord should again testify by a bodily presence that which has been spiritually declared by the light of the Gospel, once scattered and diffused throughout the whole world.

CYRIL; Now His disciples supposed that He would go to Jerusalem, and would at once make a manifestation of the kingdom of God. To rid them therefore of this belief, He informs them that it became Him first to suffer the Life-giving Passion, then to ascend to the Father and shine forth from above, that He might judge the world in righteousness. Hence He adds, But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

BEDE; He means the generation not only of the Jews, but also of all wicked men, by whom even now in His own body, that is, His Church, the Son of man suffers many things, and is rejected. But while He spoke many things of His coming in glory, He inserts something also concerning His Passion, that when men saw Him dying, whom they had heard would be glorified, they might both soothe their sorrow for His sufferings by the hope of the promised glory, and at the same time prepare themselves, if they love the glories of His kingdom, to fool; without alarm upon the horrors of death.

Catena Aurea Luke 17

Saint Josaphat
Bishop & Martyr
Memorial
November 12th

Collect:
Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord,
the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat
as he laid down his life for the sheep,
so that through his intercession
we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit
and not be afraid to lay down our life for others.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
First Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gospel: John 17:20-26
"I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may be with me where I am, to behold my glory which thou hast given me in thy love for me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me. 26 I made known to them thy name, and I will make it known, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."

The following is taken from the Catholic Encyclopedia
Josaphat Kuncevyv
Born in the little town of Volodymyr in Luthiania in the year 1580, young Josaphat proved himself to have zeal for God at a young age. As a boy he shunned the usual games of childhood, prayed much, and lost no opportunity for assisting at the divine services. Children especially regarded him with the greatest affection, and found him a worthy model. Both parents contributed to implant the seeds of piety in the heart of their child.
Owing to the straitened circumstances of his parents, he was apprenticed to the merchant Popovyc at Vilna. In this town, remarkable for the corruption of its morals, and the contentions of the various religious sects, Josaphat seemed specially guarded by Providence and became aquainted with certain excellent men under whose direction he advanced in learning and virtue.
As an apprentice, he devoted every leisure hour to prayer and study. At first Popovyc viewed this behavior with displeasure, but Josaphat gradually won such a position in his esteem, that Popovyc offered him his entire fortune and his daughter's hand.
But Josaphat's love for the religious life never wavered. At the age of twenty-four he entered the Basilian monastery of the Trinity at Vilna, and brought with him the same piety and zeal for God. His favorite pious exercise was to make a poktony (i.e., a reverence in which the head touches the ground) with the ejaculation: "Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner". Never eating meat he fasted much, wore a hair shirt and an angular chain, slept on the bare floor, and chastised his body until the blood flowed. The Jesuits frequently urged him to set boundaries to his austerities.
In 1609 after private study under the Jesuit Fabricius, Josaphat was ordained priest. He subsequently became superior in several monasteries, and on November 12, 1617, was reluctantly consecrated bishop of Vitebsk, with right of succession to the Archbishopric of Polotsk. He became archbishop in 1618.
Josaphat had lived most of his life during a time of great schism and while each succeeding year saw fresh evidence of his fruitful labors, it also witnessed the steady growth of the schismatic party. Finally on November 12, 1623, an axe stroke and a bullet brought Josaphat his martyr's crown.
After numerous miracles had occurred, a commission was appointed by Urban VIII in 1628 to inquire into the cause of Josaphat, and examined on oath 116 witnesses. Although five years had elapsed since Josaphat's death, his body was still incorrupt. In 1637 a second commission investigated the martyr's life and in 1867, twenty years after his martyrdom, Josaphat was canonnized.
As deacon, priest, and Bishop he was distinguished by his extraordinary zeal in the service of souls. Not alone in the church did he preach and hear confessions, but likewise in the fields, hospitals, prisons, and even on his journeys. Even where his words of instruction might by themselves have failed, his entreaties and tears ensured him success.
This zeal united with his kindness and extraordinary love for the poor, won numbers to the Catholic faith. Among his converts were included many important personages such as Ignatius, Patriarch of Moscow, and Emmanuel Cantacuzenus who belonged to the family of the Greek Emperor Palaeologus. As archbishop he restored the churches; issued a catechism to the clergy with instructions that it should be learned by heart; composed rules for the priestly life, entrusting to the deacons the task of superintending their observance; assembled synods in various dioceses, and firmly opposed the Chancellor when he wished to make concessions in favor of schismatics.
Throughout all his strivings and all his occupations, he continued his exemplary life as a religious, and never abated his zeal for self-mortification and prayer. He awaited death with a certain yearning, refusing to avail himself of the opportunity of flight afforded him. After his death his influence was still greater: conversions were numerous, and veneration for him continued to extend.

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Josaphat

Feast Day: November 12
Born: 1580 :: Died: 1623

Josaphat was born in Lithuania, Ukraine and baptized John in 1580. His father was a municipal counselor and his mother a pious woman. A merchant at Vilna trained him to do business. Later the merchant offered to make John his partner and asked him to marry his daughter.

But John felt that God was calling him to serve and he respectfully refused both the offers. He became a monk in the order of St. Basil and chose the name Josaphat.

He was a self-sacrificing, brave man and because of his many natural qualities, he was chosen to lead the people.

Josaphat became an apostle of ecumenism and preached unity among the Christian churches of the Ukraine. There were three main categories of Christians: the Latin Church united with the pope, the Orthodox Greek Church and the Greek Catholic Church.

Josaphat became the bishop of Polotsk in 1617. He spent the next ten years helping the people know and love their Catholic faith better. He organized celebrations of prayer and religion classes.

He called clergy meetings and worked with the priests to put into effect rules that helped the people live closer to Jesus. Archbishop Josaphat had a very good influence on people. He was a dynamic leader, which is why some people feared him.

People who were against the unity of the Churches formed a big mob and came to attack him. Josaphat tried to make sure his servants were all safe before fleeing himself but was not able to get out in time. He was killed and his body was thrown into a local river. Josaphat died on November 12, 1623.

Day 316 - Jesus Appears to Disciples by the Sea of Tiberias (Part II) // Peter is Given a Command

Today’s Reading: John 21:9-19
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you fastened your own belt and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will fasten your belt for you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Today’s Commentary
Three times: Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus as personal restitution for the three times he denied him (13:38; 18:15-18, 25-27).

more than these?: Peter is challenged to live up to his own words, since earlier he declared that even if the other disciples should fall away from Christ, his commitment would never falter (Mt 26:33).

Feed my lambs: Jesus entrusts to Peter the task of shepherding his entire flock.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: November 12th

Memorial of St. Josaphat, bishop and martyr

MASS READINGS

November 12, 2015 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

show

Recipes (11)

show

Activities (4)

show

Prayers (4)

show

Library (3)

» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!

Old Calendar: St. Martin I, pope and martyr

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Josaphat, a Catholic of the Ruthenian rite. Born in the then Polish region of Lithuania of Orthodox parents, he became a Catholic and a Ukrainian Basilian monk. Chosen bishop, he worked faithfully for the unity of the Church until he suffered martyrdom at the hands of an angry mob in Russia. His feastday in the Extraordinary Rite is celebrated on November 14.

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Martin I who was pope from 649 to 654. He was a courageous defender of the faith against heresy. He held a council at Rome which condemned the Monothelite heresy which taught that Christ had no human but only a divine will. The heretical emperor, Constans II, had him treacherously arrested and taken to Constantinople. After many sufferings and humiliations, he was exiled to Cherson in the Crimea where he died of exhaustion in 654.

St. Josaphat
Josaphat Kuncewitcz was born about the year 1580 at Vladimir, Volhynia, [part of the Polish province of Lithuania at the time] and given the name John at baptism. While being instructed as a child on the sufferings of our Savior, his heart is said to have been wounded by an arrow from the sacred side of the Crucified. In 1604 he joined the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil (Basilians), lived as a monk in a very mortified life, went barefoot even in winter, refrained from the use of wine and flesh-meat, and always wore a penitential garb. In 1614 he was appointed archimandrite of Vilna, Russia and four years later archbishop of Polotzk; in this position he worked untiringly for Church reunion. He was a great friend of the poor, once even pledged his archepiscopal omophorion (pallium) to support a poor widow. The foes of union decided to assassinate him. In a sermon, he himself spoke of his death as imminent. When he visited Vitebsk (now in Russia), his enemies attacked his lodging and murdered a number of his companions. Meekly the man of God hastened toward the mob and, full of love, cried, "My children, what are you doing? If you have something against me, see, here I am." With furious cries of "Kill the papist!", they rushed upon him with gun and sword. Josaphat's body was thrown into the river but emerged, surrounded by rays of light, and was recovered. His murderers, when sentenced to death, repented their crime and became Catholics.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Ukraine.

Things to Do:

Pray to St. Josaphat for the reunion of the separated Eastern Churches.
Read Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Letter on the Eastern Churches, Orientale Lumen.
Read more about St. Josaphat from
Read Pius XI's Encyclical Ecclesiam Dei on St. Josaphat and Pius XII's encyclical Orientales Omnes Ecclesias (On The Reunion Of The Ruthenian Chuch With Rome) .
Learn more about the different Eastern Rites which are in union with the Pope.
Josaphat is the patron saint of Ukraine, but his life has Russian, Polish and Lithuanian influences. The recipes section has several highlighted recipes from these different regions.

St. Martin I
Pope Martin I (649-654) was outstanding for virtue and knowledge. He was selected by divine Providence to be the supreme defender of the doctrine that in Christ there are two wills, a divine and a human, against the monothelite teaching of one will, favored at Constantinople. Immediately after ascending the papal throne, he convoked a synod at the Lateran which put the true teaching in its proper light and condemned the opposing error. Emperor Constans II supported the monothelite patriarch of Constantinople and commissioned the Exarch Olympios to assassinate the Pope. The Exarch entrusted the task to a lictor to murder Martin during Mass in the church of St. Mary of the Crib. The lictor could not accomplish the mission because he was suddenly struck blind. From that moment many misfortunes befell the Emperor, but no change in attitude resulted. Instead he sent the Exarch Theodor Kalliopes to Rome with orders to arrest the Pope.

Martin was carried to Constantinople to begin a tedious martrydom. He was given over to the scoffing of the rabble as he lay ill on the ship. For three months he languished in prison. Called before a tribunal, he was condemned, robbed of his episcopal garments and put into chains. Finally he was banished to Kherson in the Crimea and died there due to inhuman privations. Two letters written before his death give evidence of how he suffered under the dreadful treatment.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Symbols: Ball of fire; church and crosier; three geese; prison bars;
Often Portrayed As: Pope holding money; pope with geese around him; pope in a prison cell.

Things to Do: Learn more about the monothelite heresy.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Luke 17:20-25

Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial)

The Kingdom of God is among you. (Luke 17:21)

Sometimes hidden forces are the most powerful. Think about the work that goes into digging a canal: huge machines, lots of noise, noticed by everybody. Now compare that with the Grand Canyon. It’s a slower process, and at least at first you wouldn’t even notice what was happening, but the final results are much more impressive. No excavation crew could ever have completed such a beautiful project!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us about the most powerful unseen force of all: the kingdom of God. He explains that the coming of this kingdom isn’t accompanied with a lot of fanfare, and many don’t notice it. Rather, Jesus’ humble coming in the flesh was the inauguration of the kingdom, and that was a very quiet beginning. But from that point on, everything was different. The kingdom’s forces are now at work in a new way, and it’s only a matter of time before Jesus takes up his reign in a much more public way.

So we live in an “already, but not yet” time. God’s kingdom truly is among us, but it is not yet fully visible. This isn’t always easy for us. We want to see more; we want to experience more, but God is asking us to exercise our faith and trust in his unseen presence and his invisible power. He wants us to live in hope—not a wistful denial of reality, but a sure and certain assurance that his kingdom truly is with us. We can be peaceful and trusting, knowing that Jesus, our King, is in control, and we will eventually see his very public return in glory.

So our time is one of both rest and activity. We rest in God and his promises, but we are also active as agents of the kingdom. Sometimes our work is nothing more than admiring the work of the mighty river as it carves out the magnificent architecture of the kingdom. But at other times, we can point out this work in progress to someone else. And at all times, we can give thanks to our King, who is always at work in the world around us.

“Lord, I believe that your kingdom is here, now. And still I pray, ‘Let your kingdom come’!”

Wisdom 7:22–8:1
Psalm 119:89-91, 130, 135, 175

Regnum Christi

The Kingdom Within

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

November 12, 2015. Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

By Father Edward Hopkins, LC

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.

Introductory Prayer: Lord, I believe in your presence in my life. You have called me to share in your faith and love. I trust that you will help me grow closer to you. I love you, Lord, here and now. I will live this day in prayer.

Petition: Lord, help me to understand your Kingdom better.

When? Since the Pharisees had the wrong notion of the Kingdom of God, they could hardly ask the proper questions concerning it. Their expected kingdom was a worldly kingdom that would cast off foreign domination and restore sovereignty to Israel. But Christ’s kingdom is concerned more about the state of the soul and the struggle between good and evil than external nations. The Pharisees’ misperception kept them from recognizing Christ and his kingdom. Thousands of years later we, too, can be susceptible to the errors of the Pharisees. For us, a lack of faith can keep us from seeing that the Kingdom of God comes only when we accept Jesus as king of our souls. Only when we allow him to rule and order our lives does his kingdom come. The “when” is now. Now is the moment for me to encounter Christ and make him my king.

Where? Christ’s disciples also struggled to understand the nature of the kingdom. They sought to see “the days of the Son of Man,” a powerful reign where Christ was supreme with the entire world subject to him. Yet, Christ comes first to reign in the heart of each person. In my own heart, do I believe in Christ and accept his will? Do I love him and sacrifice myself in order to respond to his will? Am I building the kingdom from my prayer and life of grace?

How? If the kingdom is here and now, then how do we enter? We enter the same way our King enters – through the door of suffering and perseverance. “First he must suffer greatly and be rejected.” Belief is not just a one-time acceptance. Faith must be lived throughout the great and little trials we encounter in life. In this way we make faith and the kingdom more our own. We need to remember that in the end, it is the kingdom -- and the King himself -- who comes to us, like lighting across the sky.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, help me to understand your kingdom. Build your kingdom within me, in my thoughts and desires. Become my life and my love. Cut away any distance between us. Make my life the light and salt to spread your kingdom effectively to those with whom I cross paths.

Resolution: I will dedicate a longer and calmer time to examine my conscience tonight, and look for progress as well as the struggles of the kingdom within me.

Homily of the Day

November 12, 2015

In the Gospel reading the Pharisees ask Jesus about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus replies that indeed the Kingdom of God was already at hand, though they do not see or refuse to see and recognnize it in the ministry of Jesus.

Vatican Council II declares, “In the Old Testament the revelation of the Kingdom is often conveyed by means of metaphors. In the same way, the inner nature of the Church is now made known to using different images taken either from tending sheep or cultivating the land, from building, or even from family life and bethrothals, the images receive preparatory shaping in the books of the Prophets.” (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 6)

In the life of Jesus the Kingdom is definitively established in his passion, death and resurrection: “But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this people.”

The mystery of the Kingdom of God is that, while already present, its definitive fulfillment is still to come: “The Church, like a stranger in a foreign land, presses forward amid the persecutions of the world and the consolations of God, ‘announcing the cross and death of the Lord until He comes.’ ” (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, 8)

In the first reading, Wisdom is praised as a special gift of God. Let us pray for the gift of Wisdom as we live and look forward to the coming of the Kingdom of God, “as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | EspaÃ±ol

All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 6

<< Thursday, November 12, 2015 >>

St. Josaphat

Wisdom 7:22â€”8:1
View Readings

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

Luke 17:20-25
Similar Reflections

WISE UP

"Passing into holy souls from age to age, [Wisdom] produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom." â€”Wisdom 7:27-28

To be "friends of God and prophets," we must be wise (Wis 7:27). To live in God's love (Jn 15:10), we must be wise (Wis 7:28). To defeat wickedness rather than be defeated by it, we must be wise (Wis 7:30). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah and His people would have "a spirit of wisdom" (Is 11:2). Christ crucified is "the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24).

Are you wise? Fools often think they are wise. Therefore, to prove we are wise we need more than our opinion or the opinions of other fools. A telltale sign of wisdom is our readiness for the end of the world, Jesus' final coming, and Judgment Day. For example, the five wise virgins were wise because they were always ready for the Bridegroom's return (Mt 25:1ff).

Are you ready for Jesus' return? Are you crying out with the Christians of the last twenty centuries "Maranatha!" ("Come, Lord Jesus!") (Rv 22:20)? If you are ready for Jesus' return now, you are probably wise in most other areas of your life. If you are not ready for Jesus' return now, you are probably foolish in many other ways. However, you can repent and give your life to Jesus. Then you will change from a damned fool to a wise man or woman. Wise up.

Prayer: Father, "give me Wisdom, the attendant at Your throne, and reject me not from among Your children" (Wis 9:4).

Promise: "The reign of God is already in your midst. [Jesus] said to the disciples: 'A time will come when you will long to see one day of the Son of Man but will not see it.' " â€”Lk 17:21-22

Praise: St. Josaphat was quoted that he was "ready to die for the holy union" of the Church.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.