Daily Retreat 10/27/06
2006 Oct 27 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
Eph 4: 1-6/ Ps 23(24): 1-2. 3-4ab. 5-6/ Lk 12: 54-59
From today’s readings: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.... Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face.... You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
Weather Warnings
While we all experience occasional unexpected changes in the weather, we still are aware that there are certain patterns in every weather system that are quite predictable. The Gospel reminds us, for instance, that even in ancient times, it was common knowledge that wind from the south brought warmer weather.
This insight was based on simple observation, as people noticed that, when the south wind would blow, the temperature would almost always rise soon thereafter. But according to Jesus, the same simple reasoning must be applied to discern the significance of His present presence. In other words, He’s not content to be merely an isolated incident in anyone’s life - His intervention is meant to change, not just a person’s present situation, but also his future.
For most of us, however, the whole notion of the Last Judgment remains quite distant and remote - many people go months, even years, without even a passing thought to that awesome moment that will definitively divide time from eternity. Yet the autumn weather is itself an annual reminder that all earthly things come to an end, and dwelling even a little on that interpretation of the present time should help us tune in more to the Lord’s extended forecast.
Eph 4: 1-6/ Ps 23(24): 1-2. 3-4ab. 5-6/ Lk 12: 54-59
From today’s readings: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.... Lord, this is the people that longs to see Your face.... You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”
Weather Warnings
While we all experience occasional unexpected changes in the weather, we still are aware that there are certain patterns in every weather system that are quite predictable. The Gospel reminds us, for instance, that even in ancient times, it was common knowledge that wind from the south brought warmer weather.
This insight was based on simple observation, as people noticed that, when the south wind would blow, the temperature would almost always rise soon thereafter. But according to Jesus, the same simple reasoning must be applied to discern the significance of His present presence. In other words, He’s not content to be merely an isolated incident in anyone’s life - His intervention is meant to change, not just a person’s present situation, but also his future.
For most of us, however, the whole notion of the Last Judgment remains quite distant and remote - many people go months, even years, without even a passing thought to that awesome moment that will definitively divide time from eternity. Yet the autumn weather is itself an annual reminder that all earthly things come to an end, and dwelling even a little on that interpretation of the present time should help us tune in more to the Lord’s extended forecast.
posted by FrPitstick | 10/25/2006
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