GOSPEL REFLECTION, FRIDAY, 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 24 OCTOBER 2025

Luke 12:54-59.  Today’s gospel reading is a small portion of an extended sermon preached as Jesus and the disciples were on their long journey to Jerusalem.  Sometimes he addresses the crowds, at others he teaches the disciples together alone, sometimes there are interventions from the crowd that Jesus has a response.  Here he addresses the crowds.

He tells them that they were adept at reading the signs of the skies indicating weather changes.  So they would be since so many were farmers, shepherds, or fishermen who worked outdoors.  They were well aware of the conditions which affected their work.  But he calls them ‘hypocrites!’ just as he had called the Pharisees.  Why?  The Pharisees were preoccupied with external things in religion, but Jesus saw them as ignoring the inner spiritual dimension, time for repentance and conversion of their hearts,  time to recognise the growth of the Kingdom of God already present.  So it is with the crowds, so influenced by the way of the Pharisees.  They failed to recognise the inner meaning of the ‘signs of the times,’ the spiritual rather than the external significance of what surrounds them, so they too are ‘hypocrites!’  Tough words!  They understood the outer dimension and significance of things without recognising the time for conversion of heart and the growth of the Kingdom of God.  ‘Hypocrites’ in Greek language and thought meant those who acted in plays.  That was the original meaning.  Therefore, Jesus tells the Pharisees and the crowds that they were play-acting at religion, acting a role other than recognising the more important and significant inner meaning of religious thought and practice. 

In our own Catholic teaching, all things have a ‘small-s’ sacramental meaning.  It is the work of religious practice, thought, and prayer to bring us to an awareness of the inner meanings of all things.  If we do these, the ‘signs of the times’ will clarify and change us: they signify  the time for conversion of heart, and for faith in the growing Kingdom of God in us and among us.