Reflection for October 27, 2023

Luke 12: 54-59

Blog by Associate Mary Marxen

In our gospel today it reminds us of our ability to make predictions, especially in the area of our weather. But even more important than predicting our weather, how good are we at reading the signs that will help us live good lives?

There was a time when a tree in my yard was teaching me to forgive.

A neighbor had asked if she could have someone trim some of the branches of my tree that hung over her roof. Knowing that I could not reach them I agreed. Several days later, when I got home from work and looked out my back door, I was shocked at what I saw. It seemed as though a third of my tree was missing. Needless to say I was upset.

A while later I was sitting under that tree looking up at the emptiness. I noticed that the remaining branches seemed to be reaching out to the other branches to fill in the empty spaces. I realized that my tree was telling me "I’m going to be OK. Don’t hold this against your neighbor".

This tree was asking me to forgive.

The signs are there in front of us, we just need to be willing to see them.

Mary Marxen OPA