The Gospel according to Luke (21:29-33)
Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Reflection: We pray for this every time we pray the “Our Father” prayer. We pray that “Thy Kingdom come.” Do you mean it when you pray that?
In this Gospel passage Jesus states that the Kingdom of God is near. It is near, yet so often it is also very far away. It is near in a twofold sense. First, it is near in that Jesus will be returning in all His splendor and glory and make all things new. Thus, His permanent Kingdom will come to be established.
Second, His Kingdom is near in that it is only a prayer away. Jesus longs to come to establish His Kingdom within our hearts, if we only let Him in. Unfortunately, we often do not let Him in. We often keep Him at a distance and go back and forth in our minds and hearts as to whether or not we will fully enter into His holy and perfect will. We are so often hesitant to fully embrace Him and to allow His Kingdom to be established within us.
Do you realize how near His Kingdom is? Do you realize it is only a prayer and an act of your will away? Jesus is able to come to us and take over our lives if we but let Him. He is the all-powerful King who is able to transform us into a new creation. He is able to bring perfect peace and harmony to our soul. He is able to do great and beautiful things within our hearts. We only have to say the word, and mean it, and He will come.
Action of the Day: Reflect, today, upon the desire of the heart of Jesus to come to you and establish His Kingdom in your life. He longs to be your Ruler and King and to govern your soul in perfect harmony and love. Let Him come and establish His Kingdom within you.
Audio Reflection:
