Daily HOMILY for July 31, 2019: Wednesday 17th Week of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

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Wednesday 17^th Week in Ordinary Time

Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours

July 31, 2019

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  The phrase “the Kingdom of God” or “the Kingdom of Heaven” occurs 122 times in the New Testament

Ø  We hear two of those times in today’s Gospel

Ø  Jesus compares the kingdom to a treasure buried in a field and to a very valuable pearl

Ø  This idea of the “Kingdom of God” is very rich and has at least three dimensions or layers to it   

KINGDOM AS JESUS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  1^st, Jesus himself is the Kingdom of God in person

Ø  So, the Kingdom is a person and not a thing

Ø  Jesus, as he speaks and teaches, leads us to realize the overwhelming fact that in him God himself is present among us and he is the kingdom of God

KINGDOM WITHIN US +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  2^nd, the Kingdom of God is something interior 

Ø  Our inner self is the essential location of the K of G

Ø  So the Kingdom of God is not located on any map

Ø  Instead, it is in our inner being: call it in our heart, soul, or consciousness

KINGDOM AS THE CHURCH +++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  This leads to the 3^rddimension of the Kingdom

Ø  This K of G is to radiate out from us as individuals and it is to become visible through the community of believers in Jesus, i.e. through the Church

Ø  But it’s me actively participating and contributing my presence within the community of the church

Ø  In this way it’s the I “in the we” that become the living body of Christ on this earth

Ø  And through this vibrating community Kingdom becomes present in and throughout the human community or society in general

CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  So, through the Kingdom that is Jesus, God with us,

Ø  The Kingdom enters us and dwells within us, 

Ø  and as a result the kingdom emerges from within and becomes visible in the community of faith and rippling out into the human community 

Ø  That is something of the richness of this expression in the Scripture. 

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