without and within

St. Luke, whose feast day is today, wrote the gospel dearly loved by many.  It has many parables of Jesus—ones that only he includes—among them probably the best-known, the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal (or Lost) Son. 

He also preserves some sublime sayings of Jesus.  One of my favorites deals with some Pharisees asking about the kingdom of God.  “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’” (17:20-21).  The word translated as “among” is the Greek word, entos.  It can also mean “within.” 

Too often, we look for certain events that signify the kingdom, the reign of God.  It is among us; it is within us.  Even though it might not seem like it at times, especially in times of trouble and grief, that Spirit, that love, pervades the universe.  We draw the courage we need to live.