Gospel: Lk 21:29-33
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Jesus taught his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
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The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel, “teaches the disciples by simple examples to understand what is happening.” As Pope Francis explains, Jesus invites them to look at “the fig tree and all the trees” and notice that when they sprout leaves, summer is coming. “Jesus encourages us in simple words to think and understand… not only with our heads,” but also “with heart and spirit,” with our whole selves. That is precisely what “thinking as Christians” means, so that we can “understand the signs of the times.”
“The Lord wants us to understand what is happening in our hearts, our lives, the world, in history.” He wants us to understand “the meaning of what is happening now.” It is only by answering these questions that we can discern “the signs of the times.” Of course, warns Pope Francis, “we cannot do it alone: we need help from the Lord; we need the Holy Spirit to understand the signs of the times.” We need to “ask the Lord Jesus for the grace to send us his spirit of intelligence” that we may “only think in accordance with God.”
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SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2020,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
