Jesus challenges us: You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? When we look at the signs of the present time what do we see? Division, conflict, violence, hatred. The task we have as Christians is to bring gospel values into a world torn by strife and discord. St. Paul must have lived in similar circumstances since he frequently issued a call for peace, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit. He reminds the Ephesians, and us, that there are some things which are more important than these times — the seven “ones:” one Body and one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all. Yes, the disunity is real but the Apostle wants us to understand that there is a deeper reality of oneness if we have the eyes to see it, the courage to live it.
