October 26, 2018 Friday
29th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Eph 4:1–6
Gospel: Luke 12:54-59
Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once: ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when the wind blows from the south, you say: ‘It will be hot’; and so it is. You superficial people! You understand the signs of the earth and the sky, but you don’t understand the present times.“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is fit? When you go with your accuser before the court, try to settle the case on the way, lest he drag you before the judge and the judge deliver you to the jailer, and the jailer throw you in prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus says to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once: ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens.” Jesus rightly observes that we can normally anticipate the behavior of nature by simply observing the surroundings. But even though we understand signs of the earth and sky we fail to interpret correctly the signs of salvation, let alone prepare for the end times.
The “last penny” referred to in today’s Gospel parable is the Greek “lepton” which is a very small amount. Matthew 25:26 uses the Greek “kodrantes” translates in Latin as “quadrans”, which means a “farthing”. A farthing is a British coin equal to ¼ of a penny. A penny is a monetary unit equal to 1/100 of a pound. In our peso currency it is in proportion to one centavo. The essential meaning of the statement “You will not get out (of prison) until you have paid the very last penny” is that justice will not rest until the smallest requirement is satisfied.
Nobody escapes death, let alone cheat salvation. Eternal wellbeing will not settle until the smallest requirement is satisfied. While we are still alive, let us take advantage of the mercy of God gushing forth like water from a spring. When we die, justice shall prevail, and not a “lepton” of our wrongdoings shall go unpunished.
The signs of the times are compelling: life is short and time won’t tarry. When we see death visiting young and old persons alike, we recognize in it some signs that our own is soon to come. It doesn’t give us an idea of the exact time but it does warn us to prepare in time. Those who respond to the sign accordingly will not telegraph their punches in the fight against evil, for they know that when it is time to face God, nobody passes the test of justice until all including the least and most insignificant of its requirements is satisfied. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.
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