Philemon 7-20 / Luke 17:20-25
We often look to the extraordinary for reassurance that God is in our
present situation.
In other words, we wish that God would work a miracle to resolve a troubled and desperate situation.
And when we are in distress, whether in illness or in danger, our instinct will be to look here or look there for an immediate solution.
The Pharisees asked when the kingdom of God was to come. Their idea of the kingdom of God is not that different from our idea of a God of quick solutions.
We want God to show His power and might, to bring about retribution to the evil people, and protect us from harm and danger. After all if God is king, then He should be doing all this to show what His kingdom is about.
Yet God is more often found in the quiet: in quiet
endurance, quiet joy, quiet kindness and goodness.
The kingdom of God is present when there is forgiveness and reconciliation and acceptance, like how St. Paul urged Philemon to forgive and accept Onesimus, his former slave, to be his brother.
Yes, the kingdom of God is found in the ordinary and quiet, humble acts of love. May we have quiet and love-filled hearts to see it.