ACC ~ Luke 17 v20 - 21

THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES BY FAITH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: These miserable men ask in mockery, “When will the kingdom of God come?” This is like saying, “Before this kingdom of which you speak comes, cross and death will seize you.” What does Christ reply? He again displays his longsuffering and incomparable love to humanity. Reviled, he does not revile again. Suffering, he does not threaten. [1] He does not harshly scold them, but because of their wickedness, he does not stoop to give them an answer to their question. He says only what is for the benefit of all people: that the kingdom of God does not come by watching. “Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” He says, “Do not ask about the times in which the season of the kingdom of heaven will again arise and come. Rather, be eager that you may be found worthy of it. It is within you. That is, it depends on your own wills and is in your own power, whether or not you receive it. Everyone that has attained to justification by means of faith in Christ and decorated by every virtue is counted worthyq of the kingdom of heaven.” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 117. [2]

[1] 1 Pet 2:23.

[2] CGSL 467-68**.

FAITH GIVES SUPERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE

ISAAC OF NINEVEH: “The Kingdom of the Heavens is within you,” and you should not hope to find it in a place, nor does it come in observation, according to the word of Christ. ASCETICAL HOMILIES 53. [1]

[1] AHSIS 264.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY

JOHN CASSIAN: If the devil has been driven out and sin no longer reigns, then the kingdom of God is established in us. As it is written in the Gospel, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, ‘Lo here,’ or ‘Lo, there.’ Truly I say to you that the kingdom of God is within you.” The only thing that can be “within us” is knowledge or ignorance of the truth and the affection for righteousness or sin by which we prepare our hearts to be a kingdom of Christ or the devil. St. Paul described the nature of this kingdom in this way: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” [1] If the kingdom of God is within us and is righteousness, peace and joy, then someone that remains in these is surely within the kingdom of God. Someone that remains in unrighteousness, conflict and the melancholy that kills the life of the spirit is already a citizen of the devil’s kingdom, of hell and of death. These are the signs whether it is God’s kingdom or the devil’s. CONFERENCE 1.13. [2]

[1] Rom 14:17.

[2] LCC 12:202-3**.

TO PARTAKE OF THE KINGDOM

AMBROSE: Asked by the disciples when the kingdom of God would come, [1] the Lord said, “The kingdom of God is within you,” through the truth of grace and not through the slavery of guilt. Let those that would be free be servants in the Lord. [2] As we share in service, we also share in the kingdom. He said, “The kingdom of God is within you.” He would not say when it would come. He said there would be a day of judgment, so that he instilled in all terror of the judgment to come, [3] and he did not add the guarantee of its postponement. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.33. [4]

[1] Acts 1:6.

[2] See 1 Cor 7:22.

[3] See Mt 24:30-31.

[4] EHG 343-44**.