THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST. (Homily for Thursday of the 32nd Week in ordinary Time, Year B.)

Memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr.
Bible Study:  Wisdom 7, 22 to 8, 1. And Luke 17, 20 to 25.

Very often, we think of heaven as something that is very far away, some even have a physical description of heaven as a place that is somewhere above the skies. Jesus, today tells us that heaven is not far at all. In fact, rather than wait for the last day to experience heaven, we can start living in heaven right now because God’s kingdom is right in our midst.

This is exactly what St. Paul was saying in Romans 14, verse 17. “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” To live righteously, to experience peace of mind, to be filled with that joy which only the Holy Spirit can give is to live in heaven. That said, our greatest aspiration while still on earth should be to turn our earthly existence into a heaven of some sorts such that even when we depart from earth, we are already used to the culture of heaven.

From St. Paul’s description of heaven as righteousness, peace and joy, we can see that the central characteristic of heaven is HAPPINESS or JOY. Each time, we are really happy, we are already in heaven. And to find happiness is to live right and living right means that we also help those around us find happiness. There is a lot of truth in the song: “The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here and the way to be happy is to make someone happy and we’ll have a little heaven down here.”

In our first reading this morning, we see a connection between wisdom and purity of heart. Wisdom itself is spotless and undefiled by worldly corruption. For God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. When your heart is pure, God comes to dwell inside as he himself loves purity thereby making your heart another heaven. How happy is the man who has God living in his heart. He is always at peace, he is truly satisfied and his life is always exemplary like a light shining in a dark place.

Today we celebrate the life of St. Josaphat, the Bishop and Martyr who was killed in his attempt to deepen the unity of the church. Read more about him in http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=71

Let us Pray:
Lord Jesus, deepen my faith and help me to discover its power to change and transform me. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. 

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