First reading Ephesians 4:1-6
One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God
I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
Responsorial Psalm 23(24):1-6
Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.
The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
on the waters he made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Gospel Luke 12:54-59
Do you not know how to interpret these times?
Jesus said to the crowds: ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’
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The signs of Jesus’ presence
In the Gospel passage today, Jesus was frustrated with the people who claimed they could read and understand the signs of nature. Yet, these people could not recognise God’s presence in the person of Jesus.
Today, we are quick to look at the sky and recognise if the day will be sunny or rainy. However, like the contemporaries of Jesus, we might be unaware that Jesus is with us in the midst of the circumstances we live. The presence of Jesus is real. He is with us, even in situations that seem to be lacking hope. He is present in the Scripture, the Eucharist, the silence of our hearts, the people we meet, etc. Let us be attentive to His presence and have ears of faith to listen to what He has to say to us each day.
Reflective question:
How can I be attentive to Jesus’ presence today?
How can I be attentive to Jesus’ presence today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
