finally reach heaven. But Jesus reminds us that “the Kingdom of God is among you.” It is not a place to be found with signs or predictions, but a reality that begins the moment we let Christ reign in our hearts.

In today’s world, comfort and convenience can dull our longing for God’s Kingdom. We become content with what we have: our jobs, our health, our holidays; and forget to look beyond. Yet the true measure of life is not how long or how well we live, but whether love, mercy, and goodness reign within us.

Every act of compassion, every forgiveness given, every surrender to God’s will, these are signs that the Kingdom has already come. It is not about waiting for the end, but allowing Christ to rule our minds and hearts here and now.

Reflection Question: If God’s Kingdom starts within me, how can I change my heart to be more like His?

Today’s Scripture reminds us that authority is never self-made. It is a gift from God, a trust to be exercised for the good of others. Jesus used His authority not to dominate, but to heal, to reconcile, and to bring unity. His power was rooted in compassion and humility. He respected the boundaries of others’ authority, even as He exercised His own with divine wisdom.

Many lose respect for authority because they have seen it abused, when leadership becomes self-serving rather than self-giving. The challenge for us is to lead in such a way that others are grateful for our leadership, not resentful of it. True authority should never feed pride, but inspire service.

Ultimately, whether we lead or follow, our response must be one of gratitude. Like the Samaritan leper who returned to thank Jesus, only a grateful heart is truly healed and saved. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble and reminds us that all power, all responsibility, and all success belong to God.

Reflection Question: How am I using the authority or influence entrusted to me to serve others with humility and gratitude, as Jesus did?

As the Church draws close to the end of the liturgical year, we are invited to confront the ultimate question: where are we going after this life? The early Scriptures wrestled with this mystery, but over time, through revelation and reflection, God showed us that death is not the end. The souls of the virtuous are in His hands. Those who trust in Him “live with Him in love,” and our loved ones who have gone before us are not lost—they are with God, awaiting the fullness of the resurrection.

This hope, however, is not passive. Faith is not merely believing in life after death; it is living each day in fidelity, charity, and obedience to God. Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that we do not earn salvation by our works, nor does God owe us anything. Everything we are capable of doing, working, serving, loving, is already a gift from Him. The true disciple recognises this and responds not with entitlement, but with gratitude.

To be ready for eternal life is to live a life of continual self-giving. We give because God has given to us first: health, resources, opportunities, relationships. When we give fully of ourselves, we will be at peace when the Lord calls us home. Our readiness for eternity is found not in fear, but in faithful, generous love.

Reflection Question: How is God inviting me today to live with deeper gratitude and generosity, so that my life becomes a sincere preparation for eternity?

Leadership — whether in the home, workplace, Church, or community — is not about power, but responsibility before God. Every leader is called to love virtue, seek honesty, and live with integrity. The Book of Wisdom warns that “wisdom will never enter a deceitful soul.”

A leader who compromises truth loses moral authority and becomes a stumbling block for others. Each of us, by our words and actions, either inspires faith or causes others to fall away. There is no such thing as a private sin — our example always affects others, especially the young and those weak in faith.

To lead with integrity means having the courage to correct with love and the humility to forgive freely. It also means constant self-awareness — realising that people watch what we do more than they hear what we say. Before we correct others, we must pray. Correction without prayer can wound; correction rooted in prayer can heal.

Leadership without faith leads to control; leadership with faith leads to conversion. In the end, true Christian leadership means being a living witness of Christ’s mercy and truth, so that our lives draw others closer to Him, not away.

We are challenged to see our roles, responsibilities, and talents not as entitlements, but as sacred trusts from God. Like the steward in the Gospel, we will one day be called to account for how we used the positions, opportunities, and gifts entrusted to us.

While the steward was praised not for dishonesty, but for his creativity and astuteness in securing his future. Jesus invites us to reflect: Are we as creative and committed in building God’s Kingdom as the world is in building its own?

We are reminded that our talents and positions, whether in ministry, work, or family, are opportunities to serve, sanctify, and bring others closer to Christ. The question is not only whether we are responsible, but also whether we are courageous and creative in making the Gospel alive and attractive in our world today.

Reflection Question: How am I using my gifts and position to serve God faithfully and creatively in my daily life?

Today’s Gospel reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus goes far beyond simply following Him. The crowds followed Jesus out of admiration and curiosity, but few were willing to carry the cross with Him. Discipleship is costly, it demands sacrifice, detachment, and above all, love that puts Christ at the center of every relationship and decision.

Many of us may treat Jesus like a “good luck charm”, praying when we need help, but not truly living His way of love and surrender. True discipleship means loving God above all else, even above our families, possessions, and comforts. When we love Jesus first, we learn how to love others rightly: not possessively, but freely and selflessly, as He loves us.

Love that costs nothing is not love. To love as Jesus loves is to carry our cross daily with joy and humility, trusting that every trial purifies our hearts and draws us closer to Him.

Reflection Question: Where in my life is Jesus inviting me to move from being a follower to becoming His disciple?

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a distant dream, but a present reality experienced through love, communion, and relationship. Heaven is a banquet, a joyful celebration of our relationship with God and one another, and everyone is invited. Yet many of us decline this invitation, distracted by work, achievements, hobbies, or even relationships that have forgotten their centre: God.

When we place Christ at the heart of every relationship, our lives become a foretaste of Heaven’s joy. But when we turn inward, absorbed by success, pride or pleasure, we experience isolation, which is a foretaste of hell.

Each of us has different gifts, but they are meant to build up one Body in Christ. When we learn to value and complement one another, rather than compete or compare, we live as true brothers and sisters, children of one Father.

Reflection Question: How can I make more room for God and others, so that my relationships become a true communion of love?

Like St. Paul, we feel deep sorrow when our loved ones turn away from God. But instead of losing hope, we’re called to trust in God’s mercy and timing, believing He continues to work quietly in their hearts and will draw them back to His grace in His own way.

What do I need to surrender to better entrust the conversion of my loved ones to the Lord?