THE WORD
Eph 4,1-6 / Lk 12,54-59
Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain— and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot—and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an eff ort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
IN OTHER WORDS
The Biblical interpretation of the present time is that it is God’s visitation. His challenge and call implies self-transformation, if not salvation. The present is God’s time or time of fulfillment or salvation, Kairos in Greek ( J. Mckenzie, Dictionary of the Bible, 1965 )
Jean Donovan, a twenty- seven year old Catholic lay missionary from Cleveland, USA, after some years of apostolic work in El Salvador, wrestled with the possibility of marriage and the security of a lucrative career before she decided to remain and continue her work. Despite the risk of her life, she was firm: ”Several times I have decided to leave - I almost could except for the children, the poor bruised victims of adult lunacy, who would care for them? (R. Ellsberg, All Saints, 1997n). With her decision, she ended up being killed and being raped.
As I was enjoying the delicious food at table, the little child shouted, ”Mommy may mga poor people sa labas. Bigyan natin ng pagkain”. The mother whispered,“Nakakakonsensya naman.” Right away, she responded to the conscience’s call.
A woman upon hearing the Isang Dakot Program of the Parish (St. Arnold Janssen, Cainta) offering rice to some people, acted creatively. Instead of bringing rice, she negotiated in the office: “I cannot carry a sack of rice, can I just leave cash?” She handed four thousands pesos.
The three persons above must have interpreted the present time, hearing God’s call. And then responded appropriately to Jesus’ fundamental call to love the less fortunate. Definitely, human action may be secular, temporal and historical if not so ordinary yet it is godly or divine, salvific and eschatological.
- Fr. Martin I. Mandin, SVD | St. Arnold Janssen Parish Shrine, Cainta, Rizal
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience. The Word in other words 2016
