We all love to predict the weather. There was a recent movie where the weather person never got predicted an accurate forecast. I don’t remember the plot because it was more humor than substance. To me predictions are much like trying to predict the path of a hurricane. They have models but all of them never agree.
Jesus says, Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times? ‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? Jesus is talking to the Scribes and Pharmacies and the common people who know the scripture of the Prophets and Jesus led them to the realization that He was the end result. Jesus was the Savior of Mankind. That’s why He came to Earth. He came to the People of Israel and was the fulfillment of all those prophets.
Today we know scripture as well.
Jesus did everything but complete their homework assignments for them. Still, no one listened to Him. Saint Paul explains this reasoning by saying, In fact, this seems to be the rule, that every single time I want to do good it is something evil that comes to hand. In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law which my reason dictates.
How can I take Jesus’ message and use it today?
So it is reasonable to assume that things in Jesus’ time and today have a similar fault pattern. We are all sinners. That is what makes us blind to sin in our lives.
One thing all of us do is examine our conscience. If you wanted to drink less or join AA would you go for support in a local bar? Probably not! If you are married what relationships do you have with the opposite sex?
When I had just started with the Post Office in the 1980’s, I would go on breaks with men or women who I worked. One woman whose name was Cindy, and I became close friends. One evening on the night shift she came to work with a huge black eye. Her husband had abused her. I was extremely angry, but she was not my wife or sister. I wanted to help but I know it is not my place to stand between a married man or women. Adultery was not an option, but emotional adultery could have been.
Today, I am using the internet as an example. Pornography, hateful ideas, or lies about someone’s character can be helpful and lead us to the sin that we don’t want to do. Screens pop up that lead you to the wrong places. I use the internet and cell phones here because when you are out in public, people have their noses in them, and they can do much good or much bad by the misinformation they produce.
How do we separate the good and bad in our lives?
A local synagogue here in Tulsa has a unique front to their building. It is the ten commandments. It took me 4 years to even notice it. So much for being observant. I believe the only way we can prevent sin in our lives is to be observant, follow the commandments and examine our consciences daily if not hourly. Then the only place to go is repent and seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Stay observant!
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
