Weather Report

October 26, 2018

Raise your hand if you have ever been looking for something that is literally right in front of you. I hate to say it, but I do it all the time. There is the proverbial, “Has anyone seen my glasses? Um, you mean the ones sitting on top of your head?” scenario. Sometimes I lack focus especially when I’m busy, tired, stressed, and not prayed up. The message in today’s gospel is to see what is right in front of you, spiritually speaking. We have become so good at calling a spade a spade haven’t we, but Jesus is calling us to deeper and truer self-awareness as an essential quality of spiritual maturity. We need to see ourselves and we need to determine our authentic spiritual status update. Self-awareness allows us to know when our defenses are low, when we are in need of prayer or help, when things are not quite right, when changes in lifestyle need to be made, and when we are too busy, stressed, or tired. This basic self-awareness will lead us to be more grounded in our truest identity, which is being a Beloved Child of God. When we know this and when we see it right there, like a rain cloud or the Santa Ana winds blowing, then we become the visible, predictable sign that we belong to Christ. 

Jesus has become a bit more urgent with his words in the gospels this week because he knew his time on earth was reaching an end. That same urgency seems to be relevant right now with all that is going on in the world and in the church. We need to be more alert and on guard than ever and seeing God in all things is the only way to fight these battles. When we notice the blowing of the Spirit, the rain of grace, and the hurricanes of mercy all around us, and when we are in touch with our own favor in the Lord, then we can truly weather the storms, navigate rough waters, and be the presence of peace that is so needed in these turbulent times. Let’s take some time to look at ourselves today and assess our own spiritual weather. Then spend some time looking for the workings of God all around us. What preparations do we need to make? What adjustments? What do we need to pay more attention to spiritually? 

Jesus wants us to be the predictable signs of his presence in the world. His presence is always peace, mercy, and light. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EPH 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit
through the bond of peace; 
one Body and one Spirit, 
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6

R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 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.”