URC Daily Devotion Saturday 15 February 2025

St Luke 12: 54 – 56

He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

Reflection

So, after a run of warnings and reassurances, some in stories, some in straight talking  … well mostly warnings if we’re honest … Jesus pulls it together with words that rung hard then, and continue to ring so today.

I hear the expression ‘It’s common sense’ frequently (often by politicians and those commenting on the political situation) and have long come to the conclusion that there is no such thing. My version of what is common sense, is so very different from that of others. 

And yet, is that not, effectively what Jesus is saying here? 

“Use your brain, your eyes, your experience, friends. If you’ve been listening to what I’ve just been saying it should be blindingly obvious how you should respond! You should use the same mechanism you use when you see rain clouds or other familiar weather signs? Based upon your life experience and your basic intelligence … your common sense if you insist … for goodness sake, look at the signs of the times, weave in the teaching I have been sharing with your and … put it into action?”

I look around at the world in turmoil, a climate crisis, a challenging economy and at times I just want to scream exactly those words. Instead, I put on my ‘hopeful hat’ and pray instead.

I remember a dear man once saying to me, “I mean, if we really took the Gospel seriously, we would behave differently, behave better … but …”

Perhaps it is time to actually listen to the teaching and warnings and behave differently, behave better … and drop the ‘buts’! 

Prayer 

Jesus, we’re not weather forecasters but we can see the signs in the sky.
We’re not world leaders, but can see that the wars, 
conflicts and inhumanity being meted out across the globe are wrong.
We are not experts in climate change or economics, but we can see that there has to be a better way.
Teach us and others to not just read the signs, but to seek to do things your way. 
Amen.