Reflection
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks to the people and talks about how they use common sense to predict the weather, and then says, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” In other words, Jesus is saying to them, “How do you not know how to interpret my presence? How do you not see that the Messiah has come?”
In these times when it is so tempting to see those considered the “other” as an enemy, or as a problem to be dealt with, how do we not see others as beloved children of God?
Perhaps we are to interpret these times not as times to destroy those considered enemies, but as a time to interrupt the pattern of hate and fear leading to violence, and to actually try Jesus’ commandment to love as He loves?
In the second half of our reading, Jesus speaks about the implications of believing in Him and following the commandment to love. Again, He uses a commonplace example – taking people to court. And He asks whether people can settle their conflicts out of court. That may seem too difficult or too foolish to try in today’s world, but at the same time, it has always seemed too foolish in the eyes of the world to love as Jesus loves.
How do we interpret the implications of belief in Jesus as the Messiah, as our Lord and Savior? How do we interpret what this means for the times in which we are living? May God’s love in Jesus Christ lead us to wisdom, justice and peace.
