The kingdom of God

In the Old Testament, the primary sense of the “Kingdom of God” is dynamic— that is, “sovereignty” or “royal rule.” The sense of realm or territorial kingdom is secondary. Therefore, “the Kingdom of God” signifies God’s sovereign, dynamic, and eschatological rule.

As the awaited Messiah, Jesus uses “the Kingdom of God” as a leitmotif of his teaching that has continuity with the Old Testament but also goes beyond it in these respects: entrance to the Kingdom is not confined to Jews; the Kingdom is not a vague future hope, but is definite and imminent, starting right here and now; the Kingdom is connected with Jesus’ destiny, his mission and his person. Hence, as the Gospel proclaims, “The Kingdom of God is among you.” It is already present and active as people strive to live their faith in God through Jesus.

What goes on in your mind as you pray daily, “Our Father in heaven… thy kingdom come”? What aspects of your life do you still have to submit to the “rule of

God”? Gospel • 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.”

SOURCE: “365 Days with the

Lord 2019,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.