FRIDAY OCTOBER 27, 2023
FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY NINTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME A
Romans 7:18-25
Luke 12:54-59
OBSERVING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Foresight is a gift given to man to make predictions, to know what will happen or what is coming ahead of him. It helps man to reorder his life, to choose wisely, to face the future with hope and trust and to understand the right course of action to take. It is not against human dignity or spirituality to have foresight but it is part and parcel of man’s make up and necessary for total well being.
Jesus admonishes us today on the need to listen and act on our insight especially in our relationship with God and for the well-being of our body and soul and our eternal heritage and salvation. Jesus reminds us that our God continues to speak to us in many and varied ways, in nature, in the events of our lives, in the circumstances of our living, in the situations of our lives and in other instances when we look well and see God’s hand writing written all over our lives.
God is never far from us and his actions are never covered from our perceptions. But we, most times ignore him and refuse to read the signs, to listen to him and to harken to his warnings and instructions. We exhibit attitudes such as being deaf, careless, unconcerned, insensitivity and hardness of heart and mind towards circumstances and situation in which God talks to us.
Jesus warns us today to be more open to him in listening, and taking seriously his warnings, attending to the signs as given or perceived, and in acting towards the good that we must work towards.
Saint Paul’s letter to the Roman continue its discourse on the war and struggles that rises in our heart. That the good we intend to do are always being confronted and conflicted by the evil that we never wanted to engage in. So there is always a war within us and we must recognize this and fight to accomplish the good that comes in our mind.
This spiritual warfare must be won in the heart and through our conviction before we can pronounce or live it out. Practical Christian living demands a more careful understanding of ourselves and our situations and surroundings which impressed upon us and gives us greater message for our wellbeing. These we must listen and harken to in order to win life and live well. For God speaks to us in these situations.
Heavenly Father, grant that your voice which echos through nature, in our situations and circumstances will be heard and attended to. Give us greater perception of your ways, deeper knowledge of your workings, and may we know your voice in nature, understand and follow you as you speak to us. Keep us faithful to you, bless us with life today, and grant us peace, happiness and eternal blessings through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
