February 17, 2020 (Monday of week 6 Year II)
This generation and sign
Dear friends in Christ, almost every weekend, there is a religious function somewhere that has to do with miracles and signs. There are loads of end of year activities and New year programs aimed at introducing people to late year miracles or beginning the new year with wonders. It is so bad, that many people believe more in miracles to achieve their life goals, than in hard work, and the results stare us in the face. It looks as if many people live on miracles and where there is no miracle there is no show. There are people who hop from one place to another in search of miracles.
Today’s first reading (James 1:1-11) is from St James the brother of Lord (Jesus’ cousin) addressed to those in Dispersion seeks to put new hearts in those who are suffering persecution on account of their faith in Christ, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The author wants his listeners to seek more of the spiritual gifts and not be engrossed in the pursuit of earthly materials. Trials are a part of the Christian life from which we must learn and develop virtues. In trials we become matured, complete and fulfilled. A poor person is made aware of his dignity as a child of God through trials and in it, the wealthy learns that wealth adds nothing to his dignity. Those who are over anxious about material things are going to pass away just like the material things they seek.
In the gospel of today (Mark 8:11-13) the Pharisees came to Jesus and were asking him for a sign. They wanted Jesus to become an entertainer, to make his ministry a sensational performance. This is not different from the tempter asking Jesus to turn stones into bread, or jump down from the Temple parapet. Jesus however did not yield to their demands. “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” There are however many places today that are basically, ‘signs and wonders’ centres. In the name of Jesus, people are promised even the impossible. Some people are discharged from hospitals and taken to miracle centres. Rather than work hard to earn a living, many now just wait for their miracles to come. While nothing is impossible for God, if he wanted to provide all our needs like manna from the sky, He will not ask us to work. Modern day preachers must tell their congregations the truth, that God does not do for us what he has put in our power to achieve. We must do what is humanly possible, to benefit from what is only divinely possible.
Let us pray: O God, teach us to know you more deeply and so follow you more sincerely. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.