The WORD in other words (2006) by Fr Magdaleno Fabiosa SVD – Univerisity of San Carlos, Cebu City
Wednesday 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
Image source : FB St Pius X Parish – Manila
The Kingdom of God is not only a future reality, it is also something that we can experience here and now in anticipation. This anticipated experience is not something that stays constant but it comes in bursts. Wherever the values of the Kingdom (concern for neighbor, especially the poor) are concretely lived, there we find a burst of the Kingdom in our very midst.
A professor of theology in the Seminary during our time compared this burst of the Kingdom to fireflies in the night sky. In the darkness of the night a single firefly, even though how small and tenuous its light may be, is noticeable.
Jesus, the incarnation of God’s Kingdom, overcame the powers of darkness by defeating its indicators found in the lives of men and women. In today’s Gospel he did this when he healed the man with a crippled hand. All what the Pharisees saw in this deed was the fact that Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath.
As Christians we have been sent to continue what Jesus did. We also confront the powers of darkness concretely present in the flawed relationships between people (be it economic, political, psychological and social). Anything that does not promote a life giving relationship is an indicator of the power of the evil one wanting to extend his reign in our world.
It is here where we are challenged not so much to be confrontational rather to witness with our very own life the values of the Kingdom that has permeated us. If we live these values we let Jesus live in this world again, the Jesus who defeated the power of darkness in his suffering, death, and resurrection.
