Signs of the Times

Today's Reflections

                                                                          

                                                                        

 

Signs of the Times

Lk 12:54-59

⁵⁴[Jesus] said to the crowds, “When you see [a] cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain—and so it does; ⁵⁵and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is. ⁵⁶You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

⁵⁷“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. ⁵⁹I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

THE WIND BLOWING FROM THE SOUTH. Even without today’s science and technology, people of Jesus’ time know how to predict weather conditions just by looking at the skies. Thus, Jesus wonders why they cannot interpret his preaching and miracles as signs of the Messiah and the proclamation of God’s kingdom. As a result, they do not accept Jesus as the Messiah of God.

Jesus advises people to resolve their conflicts among themselves. It is better to make amicable settlements than to go to court. In court cases, the judge will give a sentence of guilty or not guilty. If one is found guilty, he will be put in prison.

Jesus means to tell us that we have to settle our accounts with God before we die, before judgment day. If not, if we are found guilty, we may be thrown into an afterlife prison—either purgatory or hell, depending upon the gravity of our sins.

Therefore, while we have time, we have to be reconciled with God, to avoid what is evil, and to do what is good.

What signs of the times

are you reading or misreading?