Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 23, 2020
Jesus said to the crowds,
“When you see a cloud rising in the west
you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does;
and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south
you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is.
You hypocrites!
You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky;
why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate,
make an effort to settle the matter on the way;
otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge,
and the judge hand you over to the constable,
and the constable throw you into prison.
I say to you, you will not be released
until you have paid the last penny.”
It seems like the people of Jesus’ time were able to predict the weather even better than my iPhone. They knew when it was going to rain, they knew when it was going to be hot, and I can’t figure out if I need a jacket when I leave the house.
Jesus says to us, “You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” His point here is that it can be easier to predict the weather than it is to understand our own present time. The past is open to multiple interpretations and the future is always unknown, but we should be able to interpret the present, right?
When I recall the early days of the coronavirus in this country, back in March, I never would have imagined that the pandemic would still have such a profound impact on our lives in October. When I look at the news and consider the present moment, I have to admit that I am at a total loss as to how I should interpret it.
This reading says to me that, if we want to do what is right, Jesus offers himself as the way to interpret our situation. I need to admit my faults, acknowledge my mistakes, and look to Jesus’ example so that I can move forward with integrity. This is what I try to teach my children, and it’s a lesson I should take myself. Jesus is our past, our present, and our future.
Prayer
All-knowing God, we see all around us the signs of your will in our lives. At times it may be difficult for us to recognize for ourselves what those signs point us towards. Grant us the grace we need in order to know your will, the wisdom to understand it, and the strength to carry it out. May our efforts to know your will lead us not into pride and self-importance, but give us an ever greater love for you, who reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. John of Capistrano, nicknamed the “soldier saint,” helped liberate Belgrade from a military siege at the age of seventy.
John was born in Capistrano, Italy, in 1385, and studied law. After practicing as a lawyer in the courts of Naples, he was appointed the governor of Perugia. During a war with a neighboring city, he was imprisoned. During his imprisonment, John began to study theology, and when he was released in 1416, he forswore his secular profession and entered a Franciscan community at Perugia.
John studied with St. James of the March and St. Bernardine of Siena, and, through their guidance and his theological training, grew into a brilliant preacher. John's reputation as a charismatic and powerful preacher grew. John traveled throughout Europe and Russia preaching to large crowds and helping to establish Franciscan communities.
When John was well into old age, at the age of seventy, the Holy Roman Empire was facing the daunting military power of the Ottoman Empire. Both Rome and Vienna were under threat of siege. Thus, John was commissioned by Pope Callixtus III to incite in his enthralled audiences' interest in a crusade to oppose the invasion. Extending his leadership beyond simply the pastoral sphere, John also served as a leader in the defense of Belgrade and marched at the head of 70,000 soldiers who won a decisive victory in Belgrade in 1456. John died only three months later.
St. John of Capistrano has a unique presence in the New World as well. In 1776, Spanish Franciscan missionaries built a mission in southern California and named it San Juan Capistrano. The stone church they erected is the oldest building still in use in California. It is the only surviving structure that has documented proof that St. Junipero Serra celebrated Mass here. For a long time, that church was the largest building in Southern California. One unusual tradition surrounding the mission church is a celebration involving the American cliff swallow. The church was located next to two rivers, providing an abundance of insects for the birds. Each year, the swallows journey six thousand miles to Argentina for the winter and travel back in the spring. Their return is welcomed with a famous celebration, Fiesta de las Golondrinas, which takes place on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
St. John of Capistrano is the patron saint of military chaplains and of those who work as judges and in various legal professions. Some of his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
St. John of Capistrano, patron saint of military chaplains and judges—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. John of Capistrano is used with permission from Catholic Online. Last accessed October 4, 2024.