From: Luke 12:54-59

The Coming of Christ

[54] He (Jesus) also said to the multitudes, “When you see a cloud rising in the
west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it happens. [55] And when
you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it
happens. [56] You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearances of
earth and sky; but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

[57] “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? [58] 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. [59] I tell you, you will never get out till you have paid
the very last copper.”

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Commentary:

56. Jesus’ listeners knew from experience how to forecast the weather. However,
although they knew the signs of the Messiah’s coming announced by the prophets,
and were hearing His preaching and witnessing His miracles, they did not want to
draw the logical conclusion; they lacked the necessary good will and upright inten-
tion, and they just closed their eyes to the light of the Gospel (cf. Romans 1:18ff).

This attitude is also found to be very widespread in our own time, in forms of cer-
tain kinds of atheism denounced by the Second Vatican Council: “Those who will-
fully try to drive God from their heart and to avoid all questions about religion, not
following the biddings of their conscience, are not free from blame” (”Gaudium Et
Spes”, 19).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading	Ephesians 4:1-6 ©

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Psalm	Psalm 23:1-6 ©

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

the world and all its peoples.

It is he who set it on the seas;

on the waters he made it firm.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who shall stand in his holy place?

The man with clean hands and pure heart,

who desires not worthless things.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord

and reward from the God who saves him.

Such are the men who seek him,

seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

Gospel Acclamation	Ps94:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Harden not your hearts today,

but listen to the voice of the Lord.

Alleluia!

Or	Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Luke 12:54-59 ©

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. 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? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’