SIGNS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 6th Monday in Ordinary time is, “Signs.”

We know about signs.

We use signs. We need signs. We give signs. We understand signs. We misunderstand signs.

Confusing signs get us angry. Misinterpreted signs get us angry. Lack of signs get us angry. We want signs. We get lost without signs.

TODAY’S GOSPEL

We hear about signs in today’s gospel.

Let me read the whole of today’s gospel once more - Mark  8: 11-13 - because if you’re like me, sometimes we don’t hear. We’re somewhere else, or we’ve been here before - or all this is déjà vu - and we're watching another movie.

            The Pharisees came forward
            and began to argue with Jesus,
            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.

To mix or mess up a metaphor or image, many people feel they are in the same boat as the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. They feel unsure because Jesus headed in another boat for another shore - leaving those on this sure or unsure or shore without any sign where he was going.

Huh!?

Having heard that I’m talking about signs in this homily,  do you hear this gospel in a different light - this second time around?

TOMORROW IS ST. VALENTINE’S DAY

Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day - and people will be receiving signs of love. Many will be looking for signs of love and appreciation and recognition - and acknowledgement - wanting to hear from significant others, “I know you’re here in my life and I love and appreciate you.”

Say it with flowers, jewelry, a card, a word, a dinner, chocolates - preferably in the shape of a heart.

"Don't talk about love. Show me!"

So tomorrow is sign in day! However, on the other 364 days of the year - 365 this year - we the people will still be looking for signs of love.

THIS MORNING

This morning I’m heading out to the doctor’s office at 6:40 AM and a lady in the parking lot is coming towards St. Mary’s Church. I figure she’s heading for the 6:45 AM Mass. Nope. She says she’s from Mobile, Alabama and is looking for the kindergarten to meet some teachers. I’m not sure which building she’s really looking for. I bring her to the school and I meet Chuck Jr. and I say, “Which way to the Kindergarten?” He says, “Which one. They are in 4 different places.”

She was looking for a sign at 6:40 in the morning.

Aren't we all?

SIGNS FROM GOD

If you read the scriptures one discovers people want signs from God.

Is this is why people read the horoscopes?

Is this why we have various books of revelations - that keep appearing?

Is this why various people have left organized religion?

They aren't getting answers. Or the answers they get, they don't like. They want something else.

People want signs.

If you listen to the Gospel of Mark carefully, you’ll discover that Mark features this problem.

You'll hear about people wanting signs or they never get past the signs they are getting.

When signs don’t come - or the answer they want doesn't come - they go, “So long, God.”

CONCLUSION

If you know anything about Christ and Christianity, you know it's a religion of faith. It’s a religion of trust. It's a relationship - and a walking with others - sometimes in the dark.

If you know anything about other people, relationships are all about faith and trust.

Okay sometimes there are flowers from another - and sometimes one is overwhelmed by a field of flowers - or the birds of the air, and we know, "There is a God!"

Okay sometimes there are words - and sometimes one is overwhelmed with Jesus - the Word made flesh.

But most of the time it’s faith time. Most of the time it’s about trust - acts of trust that the Other is with us and loves us.