Mark 8:11-13: The Demand for a Sign
Saturday, August 27, 2022
And he sighed deeply in his spirit . . .
I am certain that Jesus sighs deeply in his spirit many times in a human day. And I am equally convinced that he smiles with our many little triumphs over self. His humanness wants to celebrate with us. His divinity wants to heal us. Despite all of the evidence we have before us of God’s constancy and love, we still do not trust God. We still ask for signs.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit . . .
Luke 3:10-18 is a story of an encounter which John the Baptist had with the Jewish and pagan world. He cautions the Jews that they must share what they have rather than hoard it for themselves. He asks the tax collectors to cease cheating people. And he reminds the soldiers that they ought to be content with the power they have and cease their grumbling. As Bishop Robert Morneau tells us in Daily Reflections for ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS: Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 when he writes about this episode: Joy lies in perpetual gratitude. The more we practice gratitude, the easier it is to live in trust and faith. The more we live in trust and faith, the less need we have to ask for signs.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit . . .
In Matthew 21:23-27, Jesus is asked by the chief priests and elders by whose authority he speaks. Jesus replies with a question – as he does frequently when he knows he is being baited. He asks who gave his cousin, John, the authority to baptize. He wants to know: Was it of heavenly or human origin? When they refuse to commit themselves, Jesus declines to answer their question. They had not really been looking for an answer. Are we always asking for an answer when we question or are we trying to control God in our lives?
And he sighed deeply in his spirit . . .
We humans question God continually. We want to know our next steps. We want to know the reasons, the origins, the causes and the effects. We are a bit afraid, or a bit too proud, to allow our sophisticated selves to experience wonder or mystery; and yet it is through the mystery of Christ’s presence in our lives each day that we are stirred to ask questions, to delve deep within, to step outside of ourselves.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit . . .
We imagine that Christ sighs a great deal as he accompanies us in our journey toward him. We also imagine that he smiles a great deal as we learn to capitulate ourselves into the safety of his hands.
Image from: http://biblefeet.blogspot.com/2009/03/and-did-those-feetthe-meaning-of-feet.html
Adapted from a reflection written on December 14, 2009.
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