signs

{Homily for tomorrow, 12 February 2007}

Mark 8: 11-13
"The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore."

Good morning. Perhaps for most of us, in some point in our lives, we ask for signs. We ask for a sign if we are accepted or loved. We ask for a sign if what we will do is right or wrong. We ask for a sign to know where we will be assigned for regency or summer apostolate. We ask for a sign whether this vocation is really for us. Maybe asking signs is indeed part of our human living – the need to be affirmed and to be sure of things.

In the Gospel for today, we heard that the Pharisees were also seeking for a sign from Jesus to prove that He is indeed the Son of God. On one hand, I guess this was natural for the Pharisees. Who could blame them for asking? I am sure that for some of us here, who underwent the Pilgrimage during our Novitiate, have also experienced the similar experience of asking signs by the people we seek assistance during the long journey. On the other hand, I guess that the Pharisees’ eyes were not really looking beyond. Instead, they wanted the concrete and the real. And this is very true in our secular world where the presence of God is so hard to see and feel because of the different noise and chaos that is happening all around.

Jesus is the sign. Jesus gave them no sign except himself and the ultimate proof of his divinity when he rose from the dead. Today Lord reveals himself to us in many ways -- in his word and in the "breaking of the bread" in the Eucharist, in his Church -- the body of Christ, in his creation, and even in the everyday circumstances of our lives. He reveals himself in people, in friends, and even in enemies. If we seek the Lord, we can be confident that he will give us everything we need to do his will. Most of all the Lord assures us of his presence and the promise that he will never leave us. How sad it is to hear that other people loose faith because they haven’t seen signs of hope.

I would like to end with the prayer of Theresa of Avila which speaks about the important signs that we must be searching. Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; All things pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices. Is God enough for you?