Forest & Trees

Friday of the 29^th Week of Ordinary Time

Feast of St. John of Capistrano

(Patron of Military Chaplains) 

Luke 12:54-59

Jesus wonders…

Why is it that you can discern impending weather by watching the sky but you are incapable of discerning the signs of the time all around you?

Good question.  Sounds like the forest from the trees question. 

And then Jesus finally gets back to the question asked by the brothers squabbling over inheritance issues back in verse 13.

I think they go together.  Culturally we are pretty quick to push disputes up the chain.  For some reason we give up, too quickly I believe, on the effort for local and proximate resolution.  The local and proximate resolution demands an intimacy, a facing one another eye to eye, a willingness to let our guard down.  The forest we can’t see is the whole local community.  The health of that community (our home) is strengthened when we deal with our disputes face to face.

But it’s just plain easier to push it up the chain.  Jesus says that even if you do have to appear before an arbitrator, continue your effort to settle the matter on the way.

To you I call;

For you will surely heed me,

O God;

Guard me as the apple of your eye;

In the shadow of you wings protect me. 

Today’s Entrance Antiphon

Psalm 16:6,8