Gospel:
Luke 12:54-59
(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.”
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Reflection:
A
neighbor had a verbal tussle with his fellow neigbor that eventually resulted
to a physical combat. After both of them has been bloodied they both hurdled
threats of lawsuit. The neigbor who started the conflict had a sudden
realization that he needs to apologize.
So he
knocked on the gate of his neigbor and when the gate was opened he humbly apologized.
And his apology was immediately accepted.
Jesus in
our gospel is advising us to exert effort to settle whatever conflict that we
have with anyone: neighbor, spouse, siblings, etc. Why? For the simple reason that
it always pays to settle conflict/s early. Otherwise if we wouldn’t settle it
that conflict could morphed into a much bigger and dangerous conflict.
Take for
example conflict between spouses that is left unsettled. Sooner or later this conflict
would result to something that is irreparable which would result to estrangement.
Therefore, we have to immediately cure whatever conflict that we have with anyone
by apologizing in the soonest possible time.
And those
who always apologize are humble, wise, loving and Godly. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
