Missio Dei

Share this post

It's a Right Pain in the Dough

www.missiodeicatholic.org

Discover more from Missio Dei

An independent publication giving a voice for aspiring Catholic writers to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Over 3,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sign in
Daily Gospel Reflections

It's a Right Pain in the Dough

Gospel reflection for Luke 13:18-21

Jane Korvemaker
Oct 31, 2023
11
Share this post

It's a Right Pain in the Dough

www.missiodeicatholic.org
5
Share
Image by Ivan Rohovchenko via Unsplash.

Today’s Gospel readings can be found on the USCCB website.

Share Missio Dei


What is the Kingdom of God?

Over the years I’ve gone through different beliefs about it. In recent years one thing that has stood out to me in the majority of these kingdom parables is that they are about some type of action. They reveal a tension: the now and the not yet; action and waiting.

Part of that tension is our tendency to slide these into competing areas, but Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God has arrived; it is in our midst. Yet it’s not fully here; there’s an imperceptibility about the kingdom. The kingdom is here now and is not yet here. There is action and there is waiting. It is, indeed, both/and.

The reason the kingdom had arrived is because it is synonymous with Jesus himself. It is just as true for us now as it was for those Jesus was preaching to: the actions that we do are directly involved in whether or not the kingdom is made manifest in us. At present, the kingdom is manifest in my life when I align myself with God’s plan of salvation, that is, Jesus living in me. This is known by the love with which I live and with which I share.

Image by Joshua Lanzarini via Unsplash

I have to say, it’s exceptionally hard to choose love when I’m overwhelmed, or when one of my children is screaming in my face with a meltdown, or my senses are overstimulated and I just can not handle another request from someone. My body, my brain, my heart, my soil and dough, feel unable to live up to this action of making the kingdom manifest in my midst. Of loving. What a pain! It is as St. Paul describes, like an imperceptible war within myself between what is of this world (flesh) and what is of God (spiritual). And it is exhausting.

Share

My prayer for all of us is that in these invisible and interior moments we might have the grace to ask for God’s Spirit to do this work in us, for it is something I know that I alone cannot accomplish. It is such a desperate need that fuels the cry, ‘Lord, help! Make all this new!’ May God’s Spirit bring about within us the fruits as only he can make.

O Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, kindle within us the fire of your love. May the Kingdom of God be made manifest in our broken and lowly hearts.

Leave a comment

11
Share this post

It's a Right Pain in the Dough

www.missiodeicatholic.org
5
Share
5 Comments
Share this discussion

It's a Right Pain in the Dough

www.missiodeicatholic.org
author
Deacon Mark Mueller
Oct 31Author

I like your description of the Kingdom as the “here and not yet.” It is here unless darkness and sin of our own making dim it or shut it out … if we let it. If we are not vigilant. But even if and when I fail in vigilance, the kingdom is not lost but always surrounds me in the “not yet”. Thanks! Beautiful reflection! Have a Blessed All Saint Eve tonight and celebration tomorrow!

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
1 reply
Kathleen
Nov 1Liked by Jane Korvemaker

Yes, you are so right!

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
3 more comments...
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Missio Dei
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing