In the Northern United States, Canada, Northern Europe and Asia the Aurora Borealis is visible all year long. It is like a fireworks display from a ionization of particles in reaction thousands of miles above the earth. However, I often wonder what ancient man thought what sign this all meant.
Luke says today, ” Why do you know how to interpret the present time?” We live in a crazy, violent, immoral and uncertain time on this planet earth. However, this was the same type of time that Jesus is speaking when He was on earth and He says, “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” The point is we all know right from wrong. If we don’t read scriptures, we have laws based on scripture. The only time we have gray areas is when we judge someone else and that comes at the cost of removing the plank from our own eyes. Nonetheless, Jesus is not condemning us. He is saying to wake up! See the signs.
Saint Paul in Romans says, “good does not dwell in me” and goes on to say “when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind.”Saint Paul seems to be talking about original sin and the tendency for all humans to sin. He is not excusing our sinful nature but imploring the only source of Saint Paul’s strength which is Jesus Christ.
This past week a distant relative by marriage is going through what I wish no parent should go through. On Friday of last week his son who has had a troubled past fell off a balcony and is on life supports. He was the father of two. His dad said today that it is so unnatural for a parent to bury their child. They are considering medically harvesting his organs. The son has no brain waves. If he survives he will be on life supports the rest of his life. My prayers are with him and his ex-wife.
We as humans do not have any power over sin. My buddy Dennis would not drive home a certain way because of a bill board that had a provocative message. It was his decision and I do not judge his intentions. We can try to resist. He resisted by avoiding the opportunity of sin. By ourselves we have no power. We have the Sacraments and in specific, Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. Jesus may have my soul, but Satan is in charge of the world we live. The only power over Satan is Jesus Christ.
Saint Theresa of Lesieux said that everything is grace and yes the sign in the heavens is that we need to seek shelter in Jesus Christ. Yes this is an opportunity that our sinful nature provides and is a constant means of grace against our sinful nature.
From Sunday’s readings in Exodus, Moses raised his hands and the Israelites won the battle against the foe. Raise your hands to Jesus in prayer. Moses did it by praying and submitting to God. The sign in the sky is an opportunity to tame the tendencies “at war with law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members”. “Raise your hands and hearts to the signs in the heavens.
Even people suffering with addiction have that means of grace in Jesus Christ. That includes one of my grandsons. Yes Lord I am praying.
The sign in the heavens is that we have Jesus to seek shelter.
God Bless you always
Bob Burford
