Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark 8,11-13.
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, 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.
Today’s Reflection:
“He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation seek a sign?’” (Mark 8:12)
The Hebrews in Jesus’ time were watching in great anticipation for some sign that the Messiah had come. They expected the Messiah to come with power to take back their land, and restore them to the glory days of King David.
Jesus “sighed from the depth of his spirit”. He was frustrated because he had already provided so many signs: He quoted their own scriptures, “The lame walk and the dumb speak, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” He multiplied the loaves, walked on water and raised the dead. But the people didn’t get it. They had preconceived ideas of what the messiah would look like and how he would act --- they missed the sign!
When I am lonely, sad, frustrated, restless, tired, angry, cold, hungry, depressed, destitute, unemployed, or homeless, I too want a sign that God is with me. Asking for a sign from God is not a bad thing. God has promised us signs. But genuine requests for signs flow from an open heart. They stem from an honest seeking of God’s will, and a willingness to accept God’s answer. So often we come to prayer with our answers defined and our parameters set – so we miss the sign!
The Messiah has come! Jesus is in our midst. He lives in a thousand homeless people in this city – but we miss the sign.
“I am alone in the streets of this city and no one sees me. No one is looking for me. No one knows who I am. No one knows who I was or where I came from”.
We miss the sign.
“I huddle in the doorways at night. I sleep under the bridge on rainy days. I sleep on the beach and in the park. I am alone”.
We miss the sign.
“I pick up your cigarette butts tossed on the street and I go through your trash thrown out. I am alone”.
We miss the sign.
I miss my home. I miss my parents and my brothers and sister, my aunts and uncles. God knows, I miss my children. I am alone”.
We miss the sign.
Come down from that cross then I will believe! Do it my way and my faith will be strong. Give me the miracle I’ve been praying for and I will be convinced. Multiply the loaves again and feed this homeless person. No wonder Jesus sighs!
We miss the sign.
Jim Welter
Tags: Gospel Reflection Signs Messiah
