FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom (Wisdom 7:22—8:1)
“Wisdom is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God.”
For in wisdom there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent and pure and most subtle. For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail. She reaches mightily from one end to the earth to the other, and she orders all things well.
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119:89.90.91.130.135.175 (R. 89a)
R/. Forever is your word, O Lord.
Forever is your word,
O Lord, standing firm in the heavens. R/.
From age to age is your truth;
like the earth, it stands firm. R/.
Your judgements endure to this day,
for all things are your servants. R/.
The unfolding of your word gives light,
and understanding to the simple. R/.
Let your face shine forth on your servant,
and teach me your decrees. R/.
My soul shall live and praise you.
Your judgements give me help. R/.
ALLELUIA John 15:5
Alleluia. I am the vine, you are the branches says the Lord. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 17:20-25)
“The kingdom of God is in your midst.”
At that time: Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, Jesus answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Behold, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Behold, there!’ or ‘Behold, here!’ Do not go, do not follow them. For as the 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 many things and be rejected by this generation.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The kingdom of God consists, at root, in union with Jesus Christ and it flourishes in a life of love of God and of neighbour, which is the authentic Christian life. It exists in a civilization built on the basis of Christian love: a civilization of love and justice, with the life of God pulsating within it and imparted from on high by means of union with Christ. The kingdom is embodied in the person of Jesus, who shows that he is the Messiah. It is by being in him and by his being in us that we enter into the kingdom. The kingdom is within you if you chose to be in Christ, and you are in Christ if you accept him and his teachings.