dominicosLuke 12, 54 - 59
When you see a cloud in the west you say at once "we will have rain", and it happens. When the wind blows from the south you say "it will be hot" and it is.
By way these words Jesus reproaches his co citizens for not knowing how to interpret the "signs of the times" when they are perfectly able to interpret the meteorological signs.
The contemporary Church takes special care to be faithful to this invitation of Jesus. In the Concilio Vaticano II it was said "It is the permanent duty of the Church to scrutinize closely the signs of the times and to interpret them in the light of the Gospel, in such a way as, adjusting to each generation, the Church may respond to the perennial questions of humanity about the meaning of life, present and future. It is necessary, through that, to know and understand the world in which we live, its hopes, its aspirations and the dramatic features that frequently characterize it (G.S.4)."
¡Hypocrites! If you know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky ¿How is it that you don't know how to interpret the "present moment"?
Analyzing the present state of the world "the present moment", the Concilio has recognized some essential "signs of the times. Here are some:
The growing solidarity between peoples (A.S., 14) Ecumenism (D: Ecum.4) Concern for religious liberty (L.R.15) Need for the apostleship of seculars (A.L.1)
Moved by the faith which impels it to believe that t is led by the Spirit of the Lord, who fills the universe, the people of God strives to discern in the events, demands and desires that are common to all men of our time and which are in them the signs of the presence or the designs of God (G.S.11)
To be aware of the moment in which we are!
God conducts history, God continues to act TODAY.
Rather than to feel pain, nostalgia, for a Church of the past...
Rather than the evasion of dreaming of a Church for tomorrow.
It is indispensable, in accordance with the invitation of Jesus "To be aware of the moment in which we find ourselves". His contemporaries in the Palestine of that epoch did not know how to benefit y the prodigious reality of the exceptional times they were living. And us?
The purpose of "Revision of life" is to try, humbly, to recognize the action of God in events in our lives .. In order to "find it" and participate in that action of God . in order to "reveal it", as much as possible to those who don't know about it.
Lord, help us to live the least events of our lives, as well as the greatest, at this level. To recognize, to participate, to reveal your present work.
And why do you not judge for yourselves what should be done?
The time in which "I" am living is the only time really decisive for me.
"Judge for yourselves".. No-one, no-one but me can put himself in my place for the fundamental option. I cannot lean on the judgment of others. however it is not of no use in that it may enlighten me.
The brief parable that follows repeats to us the urgency of this taking up of a stance.
"When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, do all that is possible to come to an agreement whilst you are on the way, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer and the officer put you into prison"..
In Matthew, that same parable (Matthew 5, 25) served to insist upon the duty of fraternal charity. Lucas places this parable in a series of advice by Jesus about the urgency of conversion, the taking up of a position should not be left until tomorrow, the judgement of the "signs of the times".
Final prayers