A time of signs and wonders

 

We live in a time of signs and wonders, yet we don’t act as if we believe.  It’s frustrating at times.  And if it’s frustrating for me, a sinner, I can’t even imagine how frustrating Jesus must feel.

John's Gospel rightly notes that a prophet has no honor in his native place [John 4:44].  Since the world has become so interwoven through the wonder of modern technology (as reflected in our ability to view war in real time, with embedded reporters, and combatants able to email family via wireless technology, to see just one wonder), the world really is the "native place" for each of us.  If this is true, then prophets can arise anywhere in the world.  Are there prophets among us now?  Have there been prophets in our recent memory?  Are we paying attention to the prophets among us, or are we giving them no honor?  Do we look only to our own tribe for prophets, or do we look to the rest of our “native” land?

Jesus expressed just a hint of frustration that His own “tribe” didn't believe in what He had to say, and the truth of His prophecy, unless they saw signs and wonders.  If we truly believe, do we need signs and wonders?  Do we need to see, like the royal official, a cure of a sick child to believe in Christ's message [John 4:43-54]?

Well, yes, we probably do.  Our faith is weak, and when we see and understand signs and wonders, we believe in them.  What are signs and wonders?  Many of the examples in the gospels are miracles, but are signs and wonders something besides the extraordinary?  If we have true awareness of God's presence in our lives, and we make an authentic response to that presence, then isn't every aspect of life a sign and wonder?  If our faith should slip, if our response should falter, contemplating life as signs and wonders again can shore up the foundation of our relationship with God.  Signs and wonders can help us feel God's presence and reassure us.  Jesus understood this human weakness, and so used signs and wonders.

But signs and wonders won't help us unless we understand and accept them.  It’s our response to the signs and wonders that is important.  We can see modern signs and wonders, yet what impact does it have on us?  Are we acting as if we believe?  When modern prophets interpret signs and wonders for us, are we paying attention?  Do we use signs and wonders consistent with God's purposes, or for our own?  When we observe the great blessings that modern signs and wonders can provide, do we share them freely or hoard them selfishly?  The most fundamental message from Jesus is to love one another unselfishly. 

Signs.  I don't ask for them, but I've seen them.  And most of them are profound, yet subtle.

Some that I remember are so profound that I can’t stop thinking about them and meditating on them.  As profound as they were, they were also very subtle, and I'm sorry to say that I failed to act on them.

A dozen years or so ago, Marilyn, our daughters, and I were in New York for a short sightseeing trip and to see a couple of Broadway plays.  As we were walking along 5th Avenue in the morning on the way to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, we passed by a young man who was obviously cold.  I thought, “Dear God, if this guy is still out here when we pass this way again, I’m going to give him my gloves.”  But by the time Mass was over, I had already forgotten to look for him on the way back.  Later on in the day, we were walking back to the hotel for the evening after a long day of sightseeing, and I saw a woman bundled up against the cold, looking almost dead lying on the sidewalk.  Many people were walking by very quickly, appearing not to notice her.  It was like she was just part of the landscape.  For an all too fleeting moment, I thought I should see if she was all right and maybe buy her a cup of soup or something. I didn’t, though.  Instead, I picked up my pace to try to catch up to the girls, who were crossing the street about 50 feet in front of me.  From that point on in the trip, I really felt bad about my obvious lack of compassion. For all of my noble thoughts of loving my neighbor as myself, I showed a complete disdain for what Christ called the Greatest Commandment.  I think that both of these unfortunate people (signs?) were placed in my path for me to recognize as Jesus, and I failed our Lord’s test.

God, please forgive me - I live in a time of signs and wonders, yet I don’t act as if I believe.  Please strengthen my faith so I can act on my beliefs.