THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Friday of 29^th week in ordinary time, 2021

Rom 7:18-25

Ps 119

Luke 12:54-59

Interpret The Present Time

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St John Paul II. Karol Józef Wojtyła was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After his ordination to the priesthood and theological studies in Rome, he returned to his homeland and resumed various pastoral and academic tasks. He became first auxiliary bishop and, in 1964, Archbishop of Kraków. He took part in the Second Vatican Council. He was elected pope on October 16, 1978 and took the name John Paul II. His exceptional apostolic zeal, particularly for families, young people and the sick, led him to numerous pastoral visits throughout the world. Among the many fruits which he has left as a heritage to the Church are above all his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches. In Rome on 2 April 2005, the eve of the Second Sunday of Easter (or of Divine Mercy), he departed peacefully in the Lord. He was canonized by Pope Francis on 27 April, the Second Sunday of Easter 2014.

The times and the seasons come and go, but we have done great to master them. There are still plenty of surprises in nature but to a good extent we have a way of knowing what might come. In the past, people observed the movement of animals and of the wind to determine the seasons. There are today weather forecast centres across the world; and technological advancement helps them to forecast even far into the future the weather patterns. We are able to measure movements in the earth’s crust to determine if there is a likelihood of eruptions or earthquake, we have tornados watch etc. Do we also keep watch spiritually the way we do with weather?

In the first reading of today (Romans 7:18-25) Paul expresses human weakness as his own. Often times there are very good intentions on what we want to do and achieve, but for some reasons, such intentions do not materialise. According to him, “I know of nothing good living in me—living that is, in my unspiritual self—for though the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is not...I carry out the sinful things I do not want.” He recognises that the way out is in Christ Jesus. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

In today’s gospel (Luke 12:54-59) Jesus continues his instruction to the multitudes concerning their readiness for his coming. He uses the observation of the winds to forecast the seasons, to teach on the need to be awake spiritually to the signs of the times. “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” The political horizon of the time of Jesus was fully charged, Rome was in control, but many were unhappy about the conditions. In the midst of that, the leaders appeared undisturbed and indifferent. Just as they did with the prophets of old, his warnings were unheeded, instead, they have left the real issues to seek an end to the life and ministry of Jesus. God, through the prophets and messengers had accused his people of infidelity, rather than make peace and change their ways, they had turned on the messengers. What will happen when they come into the court of God? “I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid the last copper.” The time for repentance is now, this is the opportune time to make peace with God.

Let us pray: Thank you Lord, for your constant presence in my life. Help me to make the necessary changes in the way I live. Amen.

+Remain blessed