The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)
For whatever reasons, it’s easier for me to imagine the kingdom of God coming at some other place and time, than wherever I happen to be. I expect the exciting rumors and headlines to come from somewhere else. That’s not illogical, considering that “somewhere else” takes in a lot more territory than “here” does.
But there’s more to it than that. There’s a feeling of disenchantment that I’m the least likely person in the least likely place for anything significant to happen. I may not be happy about this. Maybe I nurse unfulfilled hopes of being part of something great, or at least lit with adventure. But here I sit, feeling not unlike Luke Skywalker.
“Well, if there’s a bright center to the universe, you’re on the planet that it’s farthest from.”
But what if the kingdom isn’t coming somewhere else–or at least that’s not where it’s coming for me? What if it doesn’t come by observation, while I’m staring, listening, reloading the page, waiting for something to happen? What if I don’t have to get off planet, or out of town, to catch wind of it?
What if (behold!) the kingdom of God is within you? “Behold,” like “lo,” is a prompt to notice something that’s already there. Lo and behold, Jesus said, the kingdom of God is right there within you!
Even if you follow one of the modern translations that nerf-renders entos as “among you,” low and behold, the kingdom of God is right there, among you. Just notice it. Get into it.
And Jesus made this statement to… great saints? his favorite or most promising disciples? Nope.
Jesus made this statement to: Pharisees. Pharisees. Oh my.
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