Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." 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. 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. 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. 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."

Are we no different a society then was present at the time of Jesus? I think that Christ would still call us an “evil and adulterous generation.” Society still wants proof or scientific evidence of the existence of God. People still try today to prove that the historical Jesus existed through ancient writing and artifacts. Why is it that we still demand proof that Jesus was around? Instead, we should be focused on living the life of Jesus and not trying to validate his existence. It is simply a matter of faith. In today’s gospel message, the Pharisees and the scribes demand to see a sign from Jesus so they can validate that he is the messenger from God. So why does Jesus call the Pharisees adulterous? He calls them adulterous because of their spiritual infidelity. Not only did they question God, but they demanded God give them a sign. Jesus tells them that he is the sign and they should need no other. However, the Pharisees and the scribes rejected Jesus as the sign. They could not accept him as the Son of God because they were looking for someone who was a military leader who would defeat the Romans. Jesus did not fit the mold of the person they were seeking.  Unfortunately, healing people, freeing them from their internal demons and bringing people back from the dead was not enough to convince the Pharisees that he was truly the Son of God.  To believe in God and recognize the signs which He so clearly provides should be enough for us as well.  However, at times we still demand more. We say to him, “If only …, then I would believe.” Can we not open our eyes and see God in the little flowers that bloom in the fields?

God performs miracles right before our very eyes so we can witness his greatness. What other signs do we need? Instead, we allow the darkness of evil in the world to blind our vision. When we witness a miracle, we should fall to our knees and praise the blessing which he has bestowed upon us; that he has provided a sign so we may believe. Jesus told the Jews that “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.” This would be the ultimate sign proving that he is truly the Son of God, the Messiah. It is ok to have doubts, but do not let your doubts become demands of God. We should seek the answer and not allow the doubts to grow into demands of our God. We just need to open our hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with wisdom and he will show us his glory. Miracles occur every day. If we wish to have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit in us, we must humble ourselves to the Lord.

A Simple Prayer:

Lord Jesus, fill my soul with the Holy Spirit so that my faith may grow.

Give me the strength to shed my doubts so that I can truly see you as the Son of God.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon