"Reading the signs of the times" is a phrase that became popular in the Church after the Second Vatican Council. It refers to Jesus' words about people being able to 'read' the sky and know what weather is coming, but not being able to 'read' what's happening around them in daily life. He used a strong word, "hypocrites", about people who were clever enough to foresee the weather but seemingly could not (or didn't want to) discern what was the right or best way to behave. Of course, it isn't always easy to see what is best and right. But for someone who is in love with Christ and is in familiar contact with Him in daily prayer, the 'signs of the present time' in one's personal life should usually be quite readable. Especially, if you develop a habit of awareness and sensitivity to the presence of God around you and in the happenings of daily life, looking always to notice where the Spirit is leading, where you meet the Lord in people and events each day.

More difficult, perhaps, is "reading the signs of the times" in our various social settings - home, family, church, neighbourhood, city, country, all the places where we meet and mix with others, many of whom do not share our faith in God. But we won't go far wrong in making every effort (as St Paul's letter today advises) "to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force".