Saint Leo the Great
Lk 17: 20-25
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
Then he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, ‘Look there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Jesus’ Promise of Eternal Life
Jesus paints an extraordinary picture of what things will be like in his day. He likens his return to lightning transforming the night sky into a divine brightness. This description is tempered with the reality of his suffering and rejection. We all do and will experience some form of rejection and suffering in this life too. It cannot be denied, however, we have a light to console us. It is the light of the love of Jesus Christ and the promise of his impending return. Saint Ignatius advises us that desolation will surely come, and just as assuredly, consolation will follow. This is the nature of our existence, but it is important not to despair in the face of these trials. It is essential, even, that we remember who the lover of our souls is and his promise of eternal life in his presence.
—Terresa Ford, M.Div. is a Resident Spiritual Health Clinician (Chaplain) at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta, GA and a Resident Spiritual Director in the Spiritual Direction Formation program at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Sandy Springs, GA.
Prayer
Loving Redeemer, we thank you for the promise of your return. We thank you for your presence in our lives now and rejoice at the power of your Holy Spirit to console us. Help us to remember who we are in you despite any trials we must bear and that you are indeed the lover of our souls. In your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
—Terresa Ford