Daily Gospel Reflection for November 12, 2026

Discover how to recognize God's Kingdom in your life amidst distractions. Reflect, pray, and find fulfillment in your daily journey with faith.

Today's Gospel: Luke 17:20-25

Have you ever attended an event with a friend and then somehow become separated? It could be a state fair or a conference. You search and search, but cannot find them. Your eyes scan the crowd, but you do not see them. Then, suddenly, someone taps you on the shoulder. It’s your friend!

“Where were you?” you ask.

“Well, I was standing right over there,” they reply. “Couldn’t you see me?”

You were unable to spot your friend because you were looking in the wrong places. As you sigh in relief, your friend gently shakes their head at the oddity of the situation.

The Kingdom of God is like that. We know it is there, and we search but cannot find it. Our eyes scan the world around us, but we do not see it. It is elusive, lost amid the things that crowd our lives – work, finances, social commitments, leisure activities, volunteer obligations, and other responsibilities. We surround ourselves with noise – television, music, podcasts, browsing online, diddling on our smartphones, and engaging in scandalous conversations. While we need human interaction and relaxation, we cannot allow it to drown out the voice of God and contemplation of His divine plan.

In our often-crazy world, some forces constantly try to distract us from God and His Kingdom. They continue to call to us, “Over here!” so that we look away from God and not toward Him. Many false prophets offer fulfillment but can never offer what is truly fulfilling. Only our Lord can do that. Jesus tells us not to go off, not to run in pursuit of these charades, because they will only lead to our demise. He assures us that the Kingdom is not out there in the crowd, amid the noise, but right here, now, among us.

Ponder:

Where do I find God's Kingdom in my life right now?

Pray:

Lord, I too often follow the wrong promptings instead of following You. Help me, please, to recognize You and Your Kingdom in my life.

Pray Together:

Make a list of places and ways in which you see God active and present in your lives right now.

Copyright 2026 Marge Steinhage Fenelon