Swiss Reformed
theologian Karl Barth once famously stated that preachers of God's word ought
to preach with the Bible in one hand & the newspaper in the other. Barth understood the relationship between the
word of God and the word of the day, that they are intrinsically bound together
in such a way that one always interprets the other. Today's Gospel from Luke addresses how some
in Jesus' day could interpret the weather from the clouds and the appearance of
the earth, but they were not able to discern the signs that Jesus put before
their very eyes in his proclamation of God's kingdom. And isn't it even more true today? We are so
technologically advanced, we pride ourselves in all the scientific advances we
have made as a society, yet we so often miss the message that God is trying to
convey to us. “The signs of the times”
was an important message of the Second Vatican Counsel, as it called us to
interpret God's Word through the signs of our modern era, yet to also be true
to the original message of Jesus & the message preached by the early Church
fathers. We have some important things
to ponder as our November state-wide election is coming quickly. We will also have a personhood amendment to
vote for as well. It is important to
take this matter to prayer, to see through the lens of our faith the issues
that are before us not only as well get ready to vote in this election, but
also as we make so many different decisions, both big and small, as we live out
our faith in our daily lives.
May we pray to the Lord today that we
are able to authentically interpret his word through the signs of our times,
while still being true to the truth & wisdom that speaks to us through
God's holy Word across time & history.
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