November 12.  The Kingdom. SEE.  From Jesus’ own time until now people keep asking about the coming of the Kingdom. “Where is it, what does it look like?” they asked him.  Different churches and theologians using the Bible and external signs as described in the Book of Revelation have tried to identify what its final ending will be.  We can think of those who have died already experiencing it, which is what we celebrated on 1 November, All Saints Day.  However do we sometimes forget the words of Jesus himself, when he said, “Behold the kingdom of God is in your midst?”  But even those words continue to confuse us.  Is it within each one, in the Church, in Christianity, wherever the values of the Kingdom are lived, or wherever Wisdom is found? 

JUDGE. Reflect, share, Scripture:  In wisdom there is a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, subtle, unpolluted, invulnerable, loving the good, humane, steadfast, free from anxiety.   God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. Wisdom 7:22-8:1 “Gods kingdom is in your midst”, says Jesus.  Luke 17:20-25:  Pope Francis:     The kingdom already present and growing in our midst engages us at every level of our being and reminds us of the principle of discernment. It must be directed to all men and the whole man. EG 181  Pope Leo:  Dilexit Te. St Lawrence demonstrated his fidelity to Jesus Christ in a similar way to St Stephen by uniting martyrdom with service to the poor.   St Lawrence was forced by the Roman authorities to turn sover the treasures of the Church.   The following day he brought the poor with him. Questioned about the promised treasured he pointed to the poor saying, “these are the treasures of the church.  DT 38.    

ACT AND PRAY. COMMUNAL PRAYER FOR THE DEAD.  God, Our Father, we remember in prayer those who have had a special place  in our hearts and in our lives and are now no longer here with us.  We thank you Lord, for the gift of life we have shared together.  We ask forgiveness for the hurts we caused and forgive our loved ones too. Comfort us through the memories they leave us. May those memories give us courage for our journey into the future. Grant them a place of peace and joy in your kingdom where there is no more suffering and grief.  And when each of us is called to depart from this life may we be reunited with them in eternal happiness.    Amen