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Gospel Reading for October 25, 2024 – Luke 12: 54-59
DO NOT RECOGNIZE
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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The Pharisees were able to read the signs that would affect the weather, but they could not read the signs of their times – that the Messiah they had long, long been waiting for had already come and was in their midst.
We cannot say that we are not guilty of being like them. Look at how we have conquered space. In 2013 alone, there were about 1071 operational satellites in orbit around the Earth, and this does not include Elon Musk’s over 7,000 satellites. These satellites are orbiting the moon, the sun, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn. NASA’s Voyager spacecraft even exited the Sun’s heliosphere and entered the interstellar medium. Definitely, science is so very advanced! But despite this advancement, and even spending billions of dollars for these, we still have not explored the space between rich and poor countries. We have not explored the reasons and put an end to the problem of hunger, endless strife/struggles/wars, and the great disparity between the first world countries and the developing countries.
The best reason would be: so many of us DO NOT RECOGNIZE Jesus in our midst! Even in our own little corner of the world, in our communities, have we explored the reasons why there is such a big gap between rich and poor, and have we strived to put an end to this in our own way?
Lord, teach us to see and feel your presence and recognize you in the persons who are in need around us, that we may serve you in them!
