“The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). What does this mean? Listen to a reflection from Pope Francis:  “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness”. How blessed are we to have God's presence within us! We are Temples of the Spirit. We are never alone or unloved. God is within us, sharing his divine life with us. Yet, it is like breathing. We take it for granted. Where will we be without the breath of life? Who will we be without the presence of God within  us? 

Acknowledging Jesus' presence within us, we have to ask ourselves to what extent is he the center of our lives? He is within us by grace but other things that are not of him are also in our hearts. How much attention do we pay to Jesus in comparison to these other things? The answer may tell us what really is important in our lives. What we would like to be most important may not be in reality. Take time to be attentive to the presence of the Lord within for when we die it is this presence that will determine our eternity.