Romans 7:18-25; Psalm 119; Luke 12:54-59
Jesus said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:54-56). Beloved, not only does Jesus expect us to have faith, he also expects us to think, to wake up and “figure it out.” Jesus is not rebuking them for their ability to interpret the weather, but for their failure to understand that the person speaking to them is the promised Messiah.
We too, if we are not careful, can become very good at interpreting the physical signs to the neglect of the spiritual. We change the oil in our cars, obey traffic laws, diet, and budget; but neglect the signs that remind us to put our spiritual house in order. Do not neglect studying and applying the truths of the Bible. Beloved, in what ways do you practice spiritual discernment? It was in discernment St. Paul discovered the struggles within him in the first reading. Spiritual discernment gives us clearer understanding of our struggles and opens us to divine aid.
LET US PRAY
Father, help us to discern this present times so that we may not be carried away by the beauties of science and the pleasures of social trends. As we advance in knowledge may we not lost the sense of the sacred. Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see Jesus. Amen.
