Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
(Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23)
It is not that Jesus rejects the value of signs that he
refuses the people’s request for one in today’s gospel. Rather, it’s that a sign at this point would
be redundant. He has just enabled a mute
man to speak. This act of mercy should
have been accepted as a sign that he is an agent of God. Still the people ask for more.
Signs refer to something else. But they do not prove that their referent
exists. One must assume that it does on
faith. A smashed car is a sign that
there has been an accident. But it is
possible that someone took a sludge hammer to the vehicle. Still, it is a good bet that the wreck got
that way in an accident, so we believe it.
We see signs of God’s love for us often enough. We need a parking space, say a prayer, and
are not surprised that on the next block there is an empty space. We see people sleeping on the streets and
feel blessed by the Lord. Rather than
continue seeking signs, we must commit ourselves to God in faith. The decision will bring us happiness.
