Finding God Right Where You Are
Catholic Homily for November 13, 2025
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Luke 17:20–25
“When is God going to show up and fix everything?” This is the question people have been asking for thousands of years. We look around at all the problems in the world – poverty, sickness, injustice, war – and we wonder when God will finally step in with some dramatic miracle to make everything right.
The Pharisees asked Jesus this same question. They wanted to know when God’s kingdom would come, expecting some spectacular event with clear signs and exact timelines. But Jesus gave them an answer they didn’t expect: “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed… the kingdom of God is among you.”
Jesus was telling them – and us – that we’re looking in the wrong place. We’re waiting for God to show up in dramatic ways when He’s already here, working quietly all around us. The kingdom of God isn’t a future event we have to wait for – it’s a present reality we need to recognize.
Why We Miss What’s Right in Front of Us
Jesus warned his disciples that there would be times of longing and confusion when they would desperately want to see Him but wouldn’t know where to look. He told them not to chase after dramatic signs like lightning in the sky, because that’s not how God usually works.
The problem is that we often expect God’s kingdom to look like earthly kingdoms – with power, fame, wealth, and obvious success. But Jesus said that before His glory, He must first suffer and be rejected. The kingdom grows through hidden faithfulness, not through spectacular displays.
We recognize God’s kingdom not by spectacle but by surrender. It appears wherever Christ is welcomed and love becomes service. God’s power shows up most clearly when we stop demanding signs and start accepting the cross – when we serve others even when it’s difficult, costly, or unnoticed.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini: Finding God in Forgotten Places
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini perfectly shows us what it means to find God’s kingdom in unexpected places. Born in Italy in 1850, she was small in physical stature but had a huge heart for people others ignored.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, millions of Italians were immigrating to America, looking for better lives. But when they arrived, many Americans treated them badly. These immigrants were poor, didn’t speak English well, and were often cheated or discriminated against. Most people didn’t care about their struggles.
But Mother Cabrini crossed oceans to serve these forgotten immigrants. She built schools so their children could get an education. She opened hospitals so they could receive medical care when they were sick. She created homes where they could find safety and dignity.
She found Christ in crowded docks where confused families arrived with nothing but hope. She discovered God’s kingdom in hospital rooms where sick people had no one to care for them. Wherever there was suffering and abandonment, she let Christ’s kingdom appear through her loving service.
Mother Cabrini didn’t wait for God to fix the immigrant crisis with some miracle. She became God’s answer to their prayers. She showed that God’s kingdom comes when ordinary people like her welcome Jesus into their hearts and let His love flow through their hands.
Three Ways to Meet God’s Kingdom Today
Look within – Make a quiet examination of your heart: where is Christ inviting you to obey Him right now? Take a few minutes to honestly ask yourself: What is God asking me to do that I’ve been avoiding? Maybe it’s forgiving someone who hurt you, having a difficult conversation you’ve been putting off, or changing a habit that’s hurting you or others. God’s kingdom often starts with small acts of obedience that nobody else notices.
Look around – Serve an “unseen” neighbor: a migrant, a newcomer, someone who works behind the scenes and gets no recognition. Like Mother Cabrini caring for immigrants, find someone in your community who is overlooked or struggling. This could be a new student at school, an elderly neighbor, someone who cleans buildings or works in food service, or a family that just moved to your area. God’s kingdom appears when we notice and care for people others ignore.
Look to the Cross – Offer one present hardship for someone who suffers alone. Instead of just complaining about your problems, unite your small sufferings with Jesus’ suffering for others. If you’re dealing with illness, loneliness, stress, or disappointment, offer it as a prayer for someone who has it worse than you do. This turns your cross into part of God’s kingdom work in the world.
The Kingdom Is Not Far
Jesus was clear: “The kingdom of God is among you.” We don’t have to wait for some future miracle or dramatic intervention. God is already at work right where we are, in our families, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.
When we demand signs and spectacular miracles, we often miss the Savior who is right beside us in ordinary moments. But when we accept the cross – when we choose love even when it’s difficult – we discover Christ’s power working within us.
The kingdom of God appears when faith becomes mercy. It shows up when we stop waiting for God to fix everything and start being part of His solution. It grows when we welcome Jesus into our daily lives and let His love change how we treat other people.
With Mother Cabrini’s courage, we can welcome the King and build His house where the world forgets. We can find God in crowded classrooms, hospital waiting rooms, grocery store checkout lines, and anywhere else people need love, dignity, and hope.
God’s kingdom isn’t coming someday – it’s here now, waiting for us to recognize it and join in His work of love.
Let us Pray,
Lord Jesus, help us stop looking for dramatic signs and start seeing You right where we are. Like Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, give us eyes to notice people who are overlooked and hearts that respond with love. Help us understand that Your kingdom grows through our small acts of faithfulness and service. When we face difficulties, help us unite our struggles with Your cross for the good of others. Show us that Your power is most perfect when we surrender to Your will and let Your love work through us. Amen.
❤️ Thank You dear friend, hope this reflections touched you. 🙏 Please do not forget to share with your loved ones this november 13 homily.
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