Readings
I - Rom. : 7:18-25
II - Lk. 12: 54-59
St. John Paul II (Pope)
Optional Memorial
BE SMART ENOUGH TO GRASP THE SIGNS OF THE TIME
The Gospel excerpt of the day consists of two parts: one, the inability of the crowds to interpret the present time, the time of the Messiah and two, as a consequence missed claiming the mercy of the Messiah. The ‘crowds’ is an inclusive term that contains, the Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the common people in general. Jesus calls them hypocrites because they knew how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky but not the present - the fulfillment of the promise and the prophesies - The Day of the Lord. A willful neglect to acknowledge and accept the promised one in Jesus, the merciful saviour. The wilful neglect of the throne of mercy in Jesus would drag them to the throne of justice before the just God as depicted in the parable.
Sensitivity of mind and openness of heart are the essential requisite to be exposed to the truth present around us. Only these can help to read and respond to the signs of the time rightly according to the need of the hour making us beneficiaries of the time. Instead prejudice, pretention, neglect and bias will make us miss the opportunities, possibilities and prospects present around, leaving us losers. Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. John Paul II. He is known as the ‘Pope of the family’, ‘Pope of the youth’ and ‘Father of the World Youth Day’. He had visited around 130 countries striving for unity, peace and harmony. As a part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he had canonised 483 saints and had beautified 1,340 people. St. John Paul II was the much loved pope especially to the young people. He was loved and revered by all because of his openness and ability to respond rightly to the signs of the time. May St. John Paul II grant us an openness of heart and mind to accept and acknowledge the truth as it comes with the signs of the time. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Holy Spirit Lord, lead us to the truth”.
