The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021819.cfm)
reminds me that I
should have an open heart for God's signs.
Road
signs are very important and helpful, especially if one is not familiar with
the road. It tells motorists where to go, how to go there, what the rules are,
what is ahead, etc. They help keep people safe. However, signs would only be
able to do that if motorists know what the signs mean, and if these signs are
followed properly.
Sometimes,
or a lot of times, we want those kinds of tangible signs from God too.
Why
not?
Who
would not want affirmation or assurance of
what God wants us to do in a specific situation? Who would not want what God
wants us to choose, or where he wants us to go? Even people in the bible asked
for signs from God.
However,
it can also be taken out of bounds.
In
the gospel we see Jesus telling the Pharisees about asking for signs. He told
them that no sign will be given to them. Why? While it is normal to ask for
signs, it becomes bad if the heart is closed to God’s signs.
It is bad if the heart wants God to conform to what we want,
not for us to be open to what God wants. This was probably what was in the
hearts of the Pharisees as they argued with Jesus. It was mentioned in the
gospel that they wanted to test Jesus and was not open to understanding him
more. They probably did not believe in Jesus and his signs, his works.
They wanted to test him. Jesus had signs, he was healing people and driving out
evil spirits. He just fed four thousand people prior to this verse. He
was preaching the Word. However, they probably wanted a sign based
on their own expectations and standards. They wanted God to conform to
what they want, that’s why Jesus said no sign will be given to them as he
sighed from the depth of his spirit. Probably out of frustration. Probably out
of sadness.
Signs
will only be useful if recognized and followed.
Aside from being open to
what the signs tell us, we should also know how to recognize signs. Drivers are
supposed to take examinations to familiarize themselves with road signs.
Research should be done. Else, signs would be useless. In the same way, we
should also exert time and effort to know God more, so we can recognize his
answers and his signs for us, and not just be closed to our idea of signs.
How about us? Do we ask for signs and do what we can –
reading the bible, praying, receiving the sacraments, to know what God wants us
to do and how God wants us to live our lives? If we ask for signs, are we open
and sensitive to get and recognize signs not just based on what we want, but
what God wants? Or do we want God to conform to what sign we want from Him.
May
we always be open to God's signs, humble enough to receive him and not want him
to conform to what we want. And may we take time to strengthen our relationship
with Him so it would be easier to know and identify his signs.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another week. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the
times I don't recognize your signs. Sorry for being close minded to what you
want, and for expecting you to do what I want. Sorry for not doing enough work
to get to know you. Lord, I pray that you always make your presence alive in my
life. Help me do my part so I will always be sensitive to you. May I work and
do my part to build a strong and personal relationship with you, so that I
would know you more and recognize you, instead of just asking for signs. And
may I always be open and humble to accept your will in my life, especially when
your answers are different from my prayers. Amen.
Blessed Week!
In Christ,
-g-
February 18 2019
Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 335
Lectionary: 335
Reading
1 GN 4:1-15, 25
The
man had relations with his wife Eve,
and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,
“I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.”
Next she bore his brother Abel.
Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD
from the fruit of the soil,
while Abel, for his part,
brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.
The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
but on Cain and his offering he did not.
Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.
So the LORD said to Cain:
“Why are you so resentful and crestfallen.
If you do well, you can hold up your head;
but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:
his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”
When they were in the field,
Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
He answered, “I do not know.
Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The LORD then said: “What have you done!
Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil!
Therefore you shall be banned from the soil
that opened its mouth to receive
your brother’s blood from your hand.
If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.
You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain said to the LORD: “My punishment is too great to bear.
Since you have now banished me from the soil,
and I must avoid your presence
and become a restless wanderer on the earth,
anyone may kill me at sight.”
“Not so!” the LORD said to him.
“If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.”
So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.
Adam again had relations with his wife,
and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.
“God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said,
“because Cain slew him.”
and she conceived and bore Cain, saying,
“I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.”
Next she bore his brother Abel.
Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the LORD
from the fruit of the soil,
while Abel, for his part,
brought one of the best firstlings of his flock.
The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
but on Cain and his offering he did not.
Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen.
So the LORD said to Cain:
“Why are you so resentful and crestfallen.
If you do well, you can hold up your head;
but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door:
his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.”
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.”
When they were in the field,
Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
Then the LORD asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
He answered, “I do not know.
Am I my brother’s keeper?”
The LORD then said: “What have you done!
Listen: your brother’s blood cries out to me from the soil!
Therefore you shall be banned from the soil
that opened its mouth to receive
your brother’s blood from your hand.
If you till the soil, it shall no longer give you its produce.
You shall become a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Cain said to the LORD: “My punishment is too great to bear.
Since you have now banished me from the soil,
and I must avoid your presence
and become a restless wanderer on the earth,
anyone may kill me at sight.”
“Not so!” the LORD said to him.
“If anyone kills Cain, Cain shall be avenged sevenfold.”
So the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest anyone should kill him at sight.
Adam again had relations with his wife,
and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth.
“God has granted me more offspring in place of Abel,” she said,
“because Cain slew him.”
R.
(14a) Offer to God a sacrifice of
praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“You sit speaking against your brother;
against your mother’s son you spread rumors.
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
from the rising of the sun to its setting.
“Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“You sit speaking against your brother;
against your mother’s son you spread rumors.
When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it?
Or do you think that I am like yourself?
I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes.”
R. Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
Alleluia JN
14:6
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK
8:11-13
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.
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.
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