Daily Reflection Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

Today Jesus gives us an example of what it means to hope. Hope gives a person the ability to hold together conflicting emotions, such as suffering and the expectation of a peaceful outcome. Jesus learned that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been arrested. Yet he proceeded with his mission, anticipating the Kingdom of God. As John announced the coming of the Messiah, Jesus must announce the presence of the Kingdom.

This kingdom, to be sure, is not so much a territory on earth, but a state of being. The root words for kingdom, both in Greek, basileia, and Hebrew, malkot, mean reign more than realm. As Father John McKenzie explain in his Dictionary of the Bible, this kingdom will see the reign of righteousness, peace and joy. And this state of being will be achieved through submission to the rule of God.

Jesus demonstrates the spiritual force of the kingdom through his healing power. He cured many people, some who suffered paralysis, others suffered demonic possession. At the time, sickness, whether it was physical or emotional, was thought to be a manifestation of evil. But in this kingdom, the Son of God reigns supreme and vanquishes the evil spirit. Many people witnessed this power and came to follow Him.