Gospel

Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds,

"When you see a cloud rising in the west

you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;

and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south

you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.

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?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,

make an effort to settle the matter on the way;

otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,

and the judge hand you over to the constable,

and the constable throw you into prison.

I say to you, you will not be released

until you have paid the last penny.”

Reflection

When Jesus is talking to the crowds, he's warning them simply to recognize something that they do naturally. They look at what's happening in the sky and figure out what the weather's going to be. But they don't really yet know what the kingdom of God is like, and how different it is from what they've been used to. They've lived under the law.

And the law when one is guilty does nothing other than punish. But Jesus giving a new law and he's saying, what I want you to understand is that there's a way to settle things without using the law and punishment, but simply using a new law. The law of love, the law of understanding, the law of forgiveness. That's the challenge.

Closing Prayer

Father, in all of our relationships we fall into the trap of sometimes demanding or seeking, did someone pay for what they've done to us? In a way that hasn't anything to do with money, but just they owe us something. Give us a heart that is forgiving, the heart of Christ. Where we’re not interested in punishment, but in transformation. And we ask this in Jesus;’ name, Amen.

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