22 OCTOBER 2021 LUKE 12:54-59
Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
SPIRITUAL WEATHER
Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:56-57).
The scene of a group/cluster of ants climbing hurriedly to the wall is the sign of impending rainfall. Ants adjust their behaviors according to the changing climate! Before the weather bureau predicts certain changes in nature the indigenous people can predict it as their lives are so much with nature because of their proximity to nature. Similarly, Jesus’ contemporaries knew very well how to interpret the appearances of the earth and sky. But they failed to grasp and interpret his preaching and miracles as signs of Messiah and as they did not change their heart through repentance.
Change is the greatest law of nature. We adjust our behavior according to the changing weather. For example, when we predict the arrival of rain we close our windows or carry an umbrella! Or when we are aware of a possible hot day we dress lightly and look for places of shade. Similarly, life is full of changing conditions and we must be wise about how to deal with these changing conditions. In order to be faithful disciples in everyday life it is important to interpret our present time and its changing circumstances. For a disciple “present time” is not merely a matter of current affairs as presented in news reports. But discernment of the possible positive or negative impacts of these situations in spiritual life is very important.
It is more important for a child of God to predict or forecast spiritual weather, the condition of our heart and consciousness. One of the changing conditions that is not conducive for spiritual life is the world sinking into materialism and moral confusion due to erosion or deterioration of moral standards. Youngsters’ are no longer sure whether homo-sexual relations, abortion, extra-marital relations are bad. We need to read the signs of the changing world that approaches pregnancy as sickness and abortion as a treatment. Or treat sex merely as means of pleasure without looking at sex is for marriage and promotion of life. Amen.