11/28/2025 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 21:29-33

29 Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
30 When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;
31 in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
32 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

11/28/2025 (Friday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 21:29-33

Jesus once pointed to something very ordinary, trees sprouting new leaves, to explain something extraordinary: the ability to recognize the signs of God’s work and the certainty of His promises. Nature becomes a classroom where faith is strengthened, and our hearts are taught to trust. Just as we look at the world around us and understand what season is coming, we are called to look at the spiritual landscape of our lives and understand what God is doing.

When trees begin to bud, we know that a new season is near. Even before the heat of summer arrives, we recognize the shif such as warmer breezes, brighter mornings, longer days. In the same way, Jesus teaches us to develop spiritual sensitivity. The world constantly changes, but God’s word remains consistent. We are called not only to live by the knowledge of this truth, but also to let it shape how we respond to everything happening around us.

In today’s world, there are many signs that remind us where we place our hope. The rapid advancements in technology, for example, are remarkable. We now live in a world where cars drive themselves, artificial intelligence can hold conversations, countries communicate in seconds, and medical breakthroughs help illnesses once considered hopeless. Yet, even with all these advances, uncertainty remains. One moment the world appears stable, and the next a global crisis emerges including a pandemic, economic instability, political turmoil, or the effects of climate change. These realities remind us that human achievements, while valuable, are temporary. They shift like seasons, but God’s promises do not.

Consider also how personal life reflects the same truth. A young professional may feel secure with a strong career, only for sudden company downsizing to shake that sense of stability. A family may feel financially comfortable until unexpected medical bills change everything. In relationships, a person might believe that nothing could go wrong, but misunderstandings or betrayals can turn someone’s world upside down. Life continually changes, sometimes gradually like growing leaves, other times instantly like a strong wind.

But Jesus encourages us not to fear these shifts. Instead, He reminds us that they are signs—not of defeat, but of readiness. Just as new leaves signal a new season, the changes in our world signal that God’s plans continue unfolding. When we learn to read life spiritually, we stop panicking at every storm and start trusting in the One who is in control.

A powerful example can be seen in communities recovering after natural disasters. When a typhoon destroys villages or an earthquake turns homes into rubble, people are devastated but many rise again. Volunteers come, donations flow, churches open relief centers, and strangers become family. The destruction of the environment does not destroy their hope. Instead, it reveals love, solidarity, and the strength of the human spirit. These moments are reminders that though the world shakes, there is something unshakeable beneath us: God’s enduring truth.

Jesus reminds us that everything around us may change like governments, technology, relationships, seasons, and even the earth we stand on. But His word never expires, never becomes outdated, and never weakens. It is more stable than economic systems, more reliable than scientific predictions, and more enduring than history itself. God’s promises remain strong even when our circumstances are fragile.

So when we see the world shifting whether globally or personally, let us not respond with fear. Instead, let us respond with faith. Like watching leaves on a tree, may we learn to recognize the signs of God’s movement. When life grows uncertain, may we stand on the unchanging promises of God. And when the seasons of life change, may we hold onto the truth that God is always working, always present, and always faithful.
In every season, His word remains. And because of that, so does our hope.

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