Try Hard To Be Reconciled

 

 Luke 12: 54-59 

Interpreting the Times

⁵⁴ He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. ⁵⁵ And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

⁵⁷ “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

As Jesus reminds us, we have no trouble interpreting signs of good and bad weather, but we're not as clever when it comes to our own behavior in our distinguishing right from wrong. Certainly we might think it obvious  that wrong would be evident, but it's so cleverly camouflaged, or our own sensibility to it has been dulled, that we don't see it as readily as we used to or as we ought to. Mass shootings in quiet towns, countries at war, empty churches, mounting national debts...are these not signs that "something's rotten in Denmark"? What more do we need before we not only see the problems, but actually do something about them? The signs of the times are not good. Where do we begin? What can I  do?

Bro. Rene

Dear God, it is obvious that all is not well. Guide and direct me so that I might  in some small way get my life back on track and help others to do the same. Amen.