SANTA MISA VIERNES 17 DE JULIO 2026

Reflection on Today's Gospel Discerning Reality from God's Perspective When Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council, he used the Gospel expression (Mt 16:3), "to be open to the signs of the times," to embrace the challenge of knowing and interpreting reality with a perspective of faith. Perhaps this quote will help us grasp the message of today's prophetic reading. The voice of Isaiah rises up against the king of Assyria, who believes that his circumstances are the result of his own will and decisions, magnifying his power without recognizing that he was merely an intermediary in God's work. The psalmist's words are illuminating: "He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not punish? He who teaches mankind, does he not know?" (Psalm 93:9-10) Looking at reality from God's perspective involves discernment, as Pope Leo XIII reminded the legislators in the Spanish Parliament: "Progress offers admirable possibilities, and today we see this in a unique way in the development of artificial intelligence and new technologies. As I recalled in my recent Encyclical, technology itself is not neutral because it takes on the face of those who conceive, finance, regulate, and use it (cf. Magnifica Humanitas, 9); therefore, in the face of the transformations of our time, our discernment must focus on the place of the human person in our decisions." God is perceived in simplicity. Many times in the Gospel we find references to Jesus' prayerful attitude. Today's passage shares with us the content of one of those moments of prayer. Jesus praises the Father who manifests himself in simplicity, in small things. From God, we can perceive the mystery of life and find the profound meaning of things. Jesus does not despise human wisdom or prudence, but rather invites us to go further, discovering God's gift in that reality. Men and women of all times seek meaning, a meaning that withstands the fragility and vulnerability we all experience, and yet Jesus proposes that we find meaning from within that very fragility. To be able to perceive how God's action is revealed in the small things of daily life. The perspective from which we look also guides our choices in life. It is not simply a matter of looking, but of being able to transcend reality through a contemplative gaze. "Looking at reality from God's perspective implies assuming an openness to mystery, vulnerability, and otherness." (Antonietta Potente). May we praise God today for His presence in our lives and allow ourselves to be challenged by Him.