“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you...” — Matthew 12:38

       There was a time in my life when I felt far away from God because I considered myself sinful and unworthy. I knew that God would forgive me. I knew of His unfailing love, but knowing is different from believing.

       Back then, I asked God to give me a sign that He still loved me. The sign came in the form of a vision. During worship at The Feast, I saw myself standing at the edge of a walled city. The entire place was packed with people who were partying and worshiping God, who was seated on His throne. I stood by the gates, worshiping from afar. It was also raining, but that was OK. I deserved to be drenched in the rain, far away from God, where sinners like me belonged. But an amazing thing happened. I saw Jesus standing by my side, drenched in the rain like me. Bewildered, I asked Him what He was doing away from the comforts of His throne. He smiled and said, “If you won’t come to Me, then I’ll stay with you here.”

       I realized then that we have been already given the greatest sign of all: He came down from heaven to redeem us. Jesus meets us where we are. Karren Renz Seña (karren.s@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflection: Faith requires that we first believe, before we can see. Believe that God loves you. Believe that He wants the best for you. And then begin to see that “best” unfold right in front of your eyes.

Father, when my heart falters, please grant me the gift of faith, that I may stand strong in Your love.

In Micah 6:8, we learn to engage in the world in a holy way: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God. It is a summary of what it means to be holy. We need to spend more time reflecting on verses such as this one if we want to embrace God’s call for us.

Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

1 Hear what the Lord says: Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice! 2 Hear, O mountains, the plea of the Lord, pay attention, O foundations of the earth! For the Lord has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me! 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery I released you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 6 With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.

Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23

R: To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

5 “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. (R) 8 “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. 9 I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” (R) 16 “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, 17 though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” (R) 21 “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. 23 He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” (R)

We must respond to the revelations we have received. God is just and will judge us on what is reasonable to expect of us. If we have never heard the Gospel, then we cannot be judged according to its content. There is an urgent need to proclaim the Gospel. We need to bring the Good News to those who have not heard it. It is easier to respond to the gift of salvation as proclaimed than to respond to “natural revelation” according to our conscience. The Gospel is an aid to salvation and never a hindrance.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Matthew 12:38-42

38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. 41 At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. 42 At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”

think: The Gospel is an aid to salvation and never a hindrance.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Nehemiah 1-5

ASKING GOD FOR A SIGN

A sign! Like some of the scribes and Pharisees, how often do we wish God would give us a sign, a clear manifestation that what we plan to do is right. Many become even superstitious just to discover a sign from God. I remember a friend of mine who planned a summer trip to the Alps but was not sure whether he should go or not. So he asked God to give him a sign. If it rains the next morning when he wakes up, it would be a sign that he should not go. Bright sunshine greeted him the next morning and so, he prepared for his trip, overjoyed. He climbed one of the high mountains, slipped, fell, and spent three months in a hospital.

       Asking God for a sign might not be the right thing to do as Jesus makes it clear in today’s Gospel passage when He rejected the demand for a sign by saying, “No sign will be given…”

       In the case of the Pharisees, the intention of their request was to know whether Jesus was really the Messiah. In my friend’s case, it was a sign of insecurity and indecisiveness. To make an important or not-so-important decision, all we need is discernment. And discernment is done in prayer in the presence of God who is a loving Father who wants nothing more than to be trusted.

       I had to make many very crucial decisions in my life: whether to enter the seminary or not; whether to apply for foreign mission in Japan or stay put in Germany. And after 15 years in Japan, another crucial decision came my way: whether I should apply for a transfer to the Philippines or not. In all these cases, I never asked God for a sign. I prayed, and I asked friends to pray with me, until it became clear what the will of God for me was at that particular moment. And I never regretted any decision I have made.

       No, we don’t have to ask God for signs. He has sent us the greatest sign possible: His Son Jesus, who became our Brother and who assures us of His constant care and guidance. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you lack faith and trust in God’s providence and so ask for signs?

Lord, thank You for being my Brother who never leaves me. Thank You for encouraging me to trust You always, especially when I have to make major decisions. Amen.