A homily on Luke 17:20-25: The Kingdom Blooms were Love Reigns( 13/11/25)

A deeply moving reflection on Luke 17:20-25:

Emphasising “The Kingdom of God is not far away—it blooms in every heart where love reigns.” (16-11-25)

A young monk once approached his wise abbot and asked, “Father, where can I find the Kingdom of God? I have fasted, prayed, and done penance, yet I feel no closer to it.” The abbot smiled gently and replied, “Look around you, my son. The Kingdom is not hidden in the clouds, nor buried in the mountains. It is found in the love shared at table, in the patience you show your brothers, and in the silence where you meet God.”

Days later, while helping an elderly monk walk to the chapel, the young man felt a deep peace in his heart. In that small act of love, he finally understood—he had touched the Kingdom of God.

This story captures the essence of today’s Gospel. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. They were waiting for a powerful, visible sign—something dramatic and unmistakable. But Jesus tells them, “The kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Christ was inviting them—and us—to look deeper. The Kingdom is not a place we go to; it is a presence we live in. It begins in the heart that allows God to reign. The Kingdom of God is already here when love rules over selfishness, when mercy conquers judgment, and when forgiveness replaces resentment.

St. Augustine once said, “The Kingdom of God is within you, if God reigns within you; that is, if your soul holds fast to faith, hope, and charity.” This means the Kingdom is not something we wait for—it is something we cooperate with. Every time we choose compassion over indifference, humility over pride, and service over comfort, we bring God’s Kingdom to life in our midst.

For consecrated people, this Gospel carries a beautiful invitation. We often look for the Kingdom in the success of our ministry, in great changes or visible results. But Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom is hidden in our daily fidelity—our silent prayers, our humble service, our joy in community. The Kingdom blooms quietly in hearts that belong fully to God. St. Teresa of Avila said, “Christ has no body now but yours; yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world.” When we love, we make Christ visible.

For families, too, the Kingdom is near—when parents forgive one another, when children grow in love and obedience, when a home becomes a place of prayer and peace. Every simple act of care becomes sacred when done in love. As Jesus said in another place, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20)

Yet Jesus also reminds His disciples that before the Kingdom is fully revealed, the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected. The path to the Kingdom passes through the cross. In our own lives, too, we may feel moments of darkness or rejection, but those moments are not the absence of God—they are the places where His Kingdom is being born more deeply in us. As St. John Paul II wrote, “The Kingdom of God grows in hearts that know how to love even in suffering.”

So the real question is not when the Kingdom will come, but where we allow it to dwell. Do I carry peace in my relationships? Do I bring light into my community? Do I live with gratitude, joy, and mercy each day? The Kingdom is not an external event to await—it is an inner transformation to live.

Prayer : Jesus Abide in My Heart…

 

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God Bless…