Negligence Concerning Spiritual Things

 

Prevention is better than cure.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 29th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, October 27th, 2023
Texts: Romans 7:18-25; Psalm 119:66,68,76-77,93-94; Luke 12:54-59 

What Jesus Christ points out, today, is our negligence concerning spiritual things. We know so much about worldly things but little or none about spiritual matters. We will be spiritually sound if we could give attention to spiritual things as we do to worldly things. We do not need something extraordinary to discern the working of the spirit; it is the same attention we give to worldly things that we need. 

Jesus Christ speaks of our ignorance of the sign of time. The sign of the time is God’s presence in Him, the kingdom of God that has come upon us and the need for repentance. All we need to do to be aware of it is to pay attention to it as we do to worldly things. Jesus says, “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Giving the same attention given to the worldly matters, we will be aware of God’s presence in our midst.  

It is wisdom to address an issue before it gets worse

Jesus Christ goes further to show that interpreting the sign of time include taking preventive measures. He says, “As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.” This is an affirmation of the word: “Prevention is better than cure.” It is wisdom to address an issue before it gets worse.  

St. Paul reminds us, today, that the way out of compulsive sinful life is Jesus Christ. Yielding ourselves to Jesus Christ heals us of compulsive sinful life. St. Paul says, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through  Jesus Christ our  Lord!” Yielding ourselves to Christ entails reading the sign of time. This is uprooting beforehand whatever can lead us into sin. 

Prayer 

God our Father, grant that we may give attention to the sign of time and be aware of Your presence; help us to walk the path of peace, not chaos. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke