Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32)

Enter into almost any doctor’s office, and you will be asked for a sign.  The attendant will want to see your insurance card guaranteeing the doctor will be paid.  You can tell the person that you have plenty of money to cover the doctor’s fee, but he will not believe you.  In today’s gospel Jesus chastises the people for a similar lack of faith.

The people want Jesus to produce miracles on demand before they believe in him.  Jesus is telling them that this is not God’s way.  He says that just as the Ninevites believed Jonah’s prophecy that God was ready to destroy them, Jews should believe his message.  Of course, Jesus wants them to reform for a very different reason.  Rather than touting God’s wrath, Jesus is saying that God is at hand dispensing mercy.

 It is hard for many of us to trust.  Perhaps we have been abused by someone we once loved.  But, as Jesus indicates, there is plenty of reason to do so.  We have life and likely more than enough to eat.  We probably have had at least one parent who would have died for us and friends who are willing to help meet our needs.  These are all signs of a sort indicating God’s presence.  But some still hold out saying that they require miracles on demand before they will believe. 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Thursday of the Third Week of Advent

(Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38)

Christmas is a season of signs. Every gift signifies the giver’s affection for the recipient. Although signs may show disfavor as well, the signs offered in the readings today are both positive.

In the first reading Isaiah suggests that King Ahaz ask for a sign to show that God supports him. Faced with a military challenge, the king wants to capitulate to his enemies who will adulterate his nation’s worship. He likely refuses to ask for a sign not out of piety but from a fear to trust in the Lord. By contrast in the gospel Mary, trusting all the while in the Lord, readily accepts the sign that Elizabeth is pregnant in her old age.

Should we be seeking signs when confronted with decisions? God has not only sent us the ultimate sign in His Son Jesus but also has endowed us with His Holy Spirit. Rather than seeking additional signs, it is better to prudently discern how Jesus’ teachings apply in a given situation and then acting accordingly with the Spirit.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 14:5-18; Matthew 12:28-32)

Pope Benedict has penned a charming anecdote about his ordination to the priesthood sixty years ago. He writes that when the archbishop laid his hands on his head, a little bird warbled a joyful song on the high altar of the cathedral. The pope warns his readers that Catholics should not be superstitious but, nevertheless, finds it appropriate to interpret the bird’s tweeter as a sign of God’s approval.

In today’s gospel the Pharisees refuse to accept all that Jesus has done as a sign of God’s authorization for his mission. They demand a further sign although do not specify what would suffice. Would they be satisfied with Jesus’ calling down fire from heaven to burn up an offering like Elias performed? Probably not because, as Jesus points, they will not accept even his rising from the dead as indicating God’s approval. The sad fact is that they have already closed their minds and hearts to faith in him.

As Pope Benedict indicates, we must be careful in seeking signs. We should not demand an inexplicable happening as divine testimony for what we are saying or doing. Yet we can and perhaps should see in the good things that happen to us as God’s blessing when we determinedly strive to carry out His will.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(James 1:1-11; Mark 8:11-13)

Recently I was asked to produce a certificate – a sign -- showing that I am ordained in order to celebrate Mass in the prison. In an age when people arrive and leave communities with great frequency, who could blame such an institution for wanting to keep records of its visitors? Perhaps, then, the request from the Pharisees that Jesus produce a sign that he is whom he claims to be is in order. By this point in the Gospel of Mark Jesus has indicated that he can forgive sins and that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” But the mighty deeds that he has performed to date are just hearsay to the Pharisees. They want to see him do a work of power to corroborate the assertion that he has been sent from God.

However, Jesus has not come to offer such assurance. He intends to arouse faith that God is bringing about a new creation through him. Although people believe this after witnessing and even hearing about his cures and other wonders, they should not expect that Jesus perform such acts at their command. This would not produce faith in God, but quite the opposite – subjecting God to personal desire. The Pharisees are left frustrated. To avoid such a sensation and, more importantly, to assume the rewards of faith, we want simply to place our trust in Jesus. We will ask his assistance certainly since he has invited us to do so. But we will be careful to add like he did himself in his prayer to the Father, “Not mine, but your will be done.”

Homilette for Monday, July 20, 2009

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Exodus 14:5-18; Matthew 12:28-32

People are foolish not to seek a sign of good faith before they place their trust in a stranger. What bank would loan someone money without the person having collateral? Indeed, who would be allowed past the security gate at any public airport without producing identification? Then why, we should ask, is Jesus so upset when the scribes and Pharisees ask him for a sign in today´s gospel?

The answer must be that Jesus has already cured many people and expelled many demons as signs of his legitimacy. Not only that but the scribes and Pharisees can judge from Jesus´ preaching that he is not an impostor, but a true prophet and sage. It is time for them to dismiss their doubts and heed Jesus´ message. Of course, following Jesus will exact some sacrifice, and adopting a sceptical stance toward him will always seem easier.

People today look toward us Christians for a sign that Jesus is really divine. Not only in countries where Christians are a small minority but increasingly in Western countries where Christianity is losing ground to agnosticism and indifference, non-believers and doubters look toward professed Christians to live the love that Jesus preached. We might argue like Jesus does in the gospel that they will never be convinced. But it seems even more in line with Jesus’ teaching that we make more effort to live in solidarity with the poor and to foster an atmosphere of sincere care for one another in our parish communities. Such actions will not only attract others to faith in Jesus but also make us more coherent in our following of him.