Sharing in the Mass - Lc 12, 54-59

When I read this Gospel, I recall my father. He is a farmer and a fisherman. He can recognize the signs of heaven. Truly, this is the most important experience for his work with the power of nature. I remember that sometimes he went to the sea in the early morning, sometimes in the evening, sometimes at noon, sometimes at midnight. Do you know why? Because the direction of the wind changes on various days, and the tides which are up and down vary from day to day.

In fact, we can read the signs of heaven, the signs of the times as well, and somehow comprehend their meaning. But do we realize their profound significance which God wants us to understand? Can we interpret it? Jesus’ words rebuking the Pharisees continue to echo in us. Jesus was surprised that his contemporaries did not realize the presence of the living God among them. They did not feel happy when the Word of God visited and live with them. In our time, we can’t see Jesus as they saw him like a man. Bur there are certainly many signs in society, in the world, which express His presence. How can we meet him through these signs?

In recent years, disasters and casualties occur in various places around the world. Moreover, there are many different signs which are more subtle and deep in human hearts. The older we are, the more experiences we have. The more experiences we have, the more easily it is to see the close but delicate signs of the times. Saint Ignatius told us that we have to be spiritually sensitive enough to know God’s presence. We need to have the eyes of God to see today’s signs, signs of joy and signs of suffering.

However, it is Jesus who is the sign beyond all other signs. Yes, in our spiritual life, we have looked for Jesus, not for signs. Through Jesus and in Jesus, we meet the one God of love and mercy. Therefore, we do not look at appearances only, but also contemplate interiorly where God is present and is talking with us. That is the meaning of the sentence: “why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” which I could understand.

In Ignatian spirituality, we learn to discern spirits in order to find God in everything. I believe that there is one God, one Spirit who is guiding me and you. My days of retreat in Hiroshima reminded me that to find God, I must have hope. Hope will not disappoint me, because God has poured out his love into my heart by the Holy Spirit. To have this hope, I need patience and perseverance. (See Rom 5:3-5)

Let us pray to judge for ourselves what is right and appropriate to God’s will. We also pray for patience, perseverance and hope in order that we can meet God through the signs of God’s Kingdom, and through the biggest sign, namely Jesus.