"The kingdom of God is among you"

Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, 

and no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to his disciples, "The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 

There will be those who will say to you, 'Look, there he is,' (or) 'Look, here he is.' Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. 

For just as 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 suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation. 

Commentary of the day :

Isaac the Syrian (7th century), monk near Mosul, saint of the Orthodox churches
Discourse, 1st series, no.30

"The kingdom of God is among you"

Thanksgiving and the gratitude of the receiver encourages the giver to give yet more. But someone who does not say ‘thank you’ for the smallest of things can only be a liar and unjust in great ones. Someone who is sick and knows about his sickness is able to ask for healing; someone who acknowledges his suffering is close to healing and will easily find it…

Remember the fall of those who believed themselves strong and be humble in the midst of virtue… Cast out your ‘self’ and your enemy will be cast at a distance. Set yourself at peace and heaven and earth will fill you with peace. Strive to enter into the treasure house of your heart and you will see the treasure house of heaven. For both are the same thing; entering one you will see both. The ladder to this Kingdom is within you, concealed in your soul. Plunge within yourself to uncover your sins there: it is there that you will find the steps by which to raise yourself up… “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.”