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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Luke 17:20-25

 

Behold, the kingdom of God is among you.

Do you like to plan for the future, or do you tend to live in the moment? I’m a planner, and if I’m not careful, I’ll spend so much time planning for the future that I don’t enjoy the present.

A few years ago, I organized a Catholic women’s conference. Our volunteer team planned the conference for months. We identified speakers, charted a schedule, hired musicians, booked hotel rooms, organized vendors, more. We left no detail unchecked, and the start of the conference, we were prepared.

However, despite our planning, some things went very wrong. One of the most memorable challenges came when the hotel’s fire alarm went off in the middle of night. As the alarm blared, hundreds of women in their pajamas climbed down the fire escapes and into the hotel parking lot, where a makeshift pajama party ensued. Most of the ladies were lighthearted about the fire drill, but some were perturbed.

My team and I found ourselves with a choice: we could adapt and enjoy the conference despite imperfections, or we could make the mistake of not enjoying the experience because it wasn’t what we expected. During the fire drill, one of my mentors told me: “There’s what you plan, and then there’s what happens. The Holy Spirit still works in the ‘what happens.’”

Those words remind me of today’s Gospel. The Pharisees want to know when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus doesn’t lay out a detailed plan. Instead, He says, “The kingdom of God is among you” (Lk 17:21).

I get the sense that Pharisees were waiting for conditions to be a certain way before recognizing the kingdom. They spent so much time looking to the future that they didn’t recognize God incarnate in their midst.

 

Ponder:


How do you see the kingdom among you today?

 

Pray:


Lord, we offer all we do today for your kingdom. Help us to live joyfully, knowing that the kingdom is among us.

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There’s what you plan, and then there’s what happens. The Holy Spirit still works in the ‘what happens.’ #dailygospel

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Copyright 2021 Elizabeth Tomlin

About the Author

Elizabeth Tomlin

Elizabeth Tomlin

Elizabeth is the author of Joyful Momentum: Building and Sustaining Vibrant Women’s Groups (Ave Maria Press), General Counsel for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and director of stewardship for the Military Council of Catholic Women, where she previously served as the president and as director of faith formation. Elizabeth is a catechist and speaker, and blogs at JoyfulMomentum.org.