Friends,
the famous call of the Vatican II fathers to "read the signs of the
times" is grounded in Jesus’ exhortation in the Gospel for today.
Followers of Jesus are meant to look at the world with clear eyes, to
see what is happening, to be attentive. But this attention is of a
particular type. It is not the attention of the scientist or
the philosopher or the politician—though it can include those. It is an
attention to the things of God.
I
have often argued that many of us today are still enthralled to a Deist
view of God, whereby God is a distant and aloof first cause of the
universe, uninvolved with the world he has made. But Thomas Aquinas
taught that God is in all things "by essence, presence, and power," and
that God providentially cares for every aspect of his creation.
Therefore, we should expect to see signs of his presence and activity in
nature, in history, and in human affairs.
And
once we see, we are meant to
speak! In a way, followers of Jesus are not looking at the signs of the
times for their own benefit, but rather that they might share their
prophetic perspective with everyone else. So look around, look with
attention, look with the eyes of faith!
Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 477
Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace;
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.
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;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You 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?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If 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.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”
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