LOOKING FOR SIGNS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 16^th Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Looking for Signs.”

Part of being a human being is to look for signs.

After I wrote that I said, “Wait a minute. Animals look for signs as well.”

Dogs want treats. Flies fly away when they see someone with a fly swatter – trying to get them. Birds and monkeys parrot human beings.

Let’s stick with humans.

SINEAGE

I learned a new word this year -  or was it last year? It’s the word “signage.”

I heard at a few meetings. “We’re working on better signage for St. Mary’s.

At first I didn’t know what it meant. Then I found out it’s simply putting up good signs to help people find their way into the various buildings and offices at St. Mary’s. Next time you go to St. Mary’s check it out – starting in the parking lot.

COMMUNICATION

When we don’t see signs,  we can ask folks, “Do you know where the Naval Academy or St. John’s College or St. John Neumann’s Church is?”

Or we can ask another, “Are you angry at me?”

And then we can ask, “Do you love me?”

In fact, we spend a lot of our energy on trying to pick up signs what another is thinking or feeling.

Words, gestures, facial expressions, are all signs.

And we want signs.

Good, better, best, communicate – let’s use sign language – because we’re all deaf.

GOD – SCREAMING FOR SIGNS

We humans want signs from God.

As I wrote that – I thought – that is definitely us – but what about animals. Do they have a sense of/for God. Can we absolutely say that there are no dogs and cats and birds in the hereafter?

Is there a God?

Prove it. Show me signs.

Who is this Jesus – who’s walking around – and saying and doing things?

When we read and listen to the gospels, we see this need for signs happening many times – like in today’s gospel – Matthew 12:38-42.

In today’s gospel, we heard about the Pharisees and the scribes, saying to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”

And Jesus replies, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign,
but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.”

If you remember the story of Jonah the Prophet, if there was ever a person who wanted signs from God, it was Jonah.

Scripture commentators like to say that what Matthew is saying here is this: Just as Jonah disappeared for 3 days in the belly of  the whale and then reappeared on the shore in Nineveh, so too Jesus disappeared for 3 days in the belly of the earth, in the tomb, and then rose from the dead. 

Want a sign – of hope – of life after death? Discover Jesus who died and rose from the death?

Is that enough for you?

Today’s first reading from Micah begins with God telling us to stand before the mountains and cry out our petitions and pleas to God.

Then Micah says to become quiet and listen to God’s pleas and petitions screamed back to us.

God wants signs from us.

Self-centered us – often forget this side of the equation.

Then God tells us through Micah the prophet what kinds of signs He’s looking for from us.

It’s not the sacrificing of burnt lambs or year old calves – or thousands of fat lambs or lots of streams of oil – or even the sacrificing of one’s first born child.

Then Micah tells us the signs that God wants. We have memorized the words. As someone told me just this morning. They are the words of Michah you find on plaques in Gift Shops and are at the end of today’s first reading: “Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

CONCLUSION

The title of my homily was, “Looking for Signs.”

We come to Mass - to church -  to the Lamb – who challenges us to die to self – and switch to God and to others – and their expectations of me.

So what signs of love are God and others expecting of me each day - today?