Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 395

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul observed that "Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom." 

Both were bartering with the Almighty and Sovereign God as if their Jewish piety or Greek rationalism should have some standing in God's presence. Skeptics of our faith still practice that posturing, but with even more impunity, as they want God to prove his existence! When the devout Descartes devised his cogito as a thought experiment, he never supposed atheists would build an empire of skepticism on such a flimsy foundation. In this new age of AI they might as well try to prove they exist, and discover there's some doubt about that. 

The Pharisees in today's gospel demand a sign of Jesus. Their reference is to the Mighty Works which their forebears witnessed. That is, ancient spectacular works like the parting of the Red Sea and the annihilation of Egypt's army of charioteers. Perhaps they had in mind a cloud's sudden appearance with a terrifying voice or, better yet, Jesus's rapid disappearance into heaven in a fiery chariot. A recent Broadway show wanted Jesus to "walk across my swimming pool." Their challenge on that ordinary weekday with its usual routines of unremarkable activities was obvious mockery. They neither expected nor wanted Jesus to do something unusual. 

Catholics, however, with eyes of faith do see great signs every day. I refer especially to the sacraments. In Baptism we see God's marvelous election of his people. When the newly baptized is an infant, we see salvation given to another generation. Even as we promise to raise the child in the faith, God confirms our devotion with an oath that will span a thousand generations to come. 

In the Eucharist we witness the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord -- the pascal mysteries -- even as we listen to the Word of God, eat his flesh, and drink his blood. This sign might feel routine to those who ordinarily attend weekly or daily Mass, but there is nonetheless a Mighty Work being accomplished as our mulish, stubborn wills are reshaped and conformed to the will of God. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation confirms the Eucharist as we repeatedly turn back to the Lord, admitting our sins. Recently we have seen personalities forced to publicly apologize for their wrongdoing, even as we privately doubt their sincerity. But within the secrecy of the confessional, there's no need for pretense. "I have sinned; I have done wrong," we can say, and it's not all that difficult. 

In Marriage we witness apparent opposites -- Martians and Venusians -- reconciled and complementing one another. If that everyday miracle isn't a Mighty Work, I don't know what is! 

In the ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons, we witness God's Mighty Work as the Church is bonded by the vowed obedience of our clergy. Is it really possible that people of all ages, speaking thousands of different languages and living in hundreds of countries in both hemispheres of the Earth, can be united by the doctrines of our Catholic faith? “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” (Mt 19:26)

Finally, in the Anointing of the Sick we see the Lord's assurance to the sick and dying. He will raise us up on the last day. Consider it done!

But a list of the sacraments is not an exhaustive list of God's Mighty Works. Any Christian can name dozens of incidents in their life when God's presence was palpable; and his mercy, manifest -- from finding a misplaced cell phone to the birth of a baby. With eyes of faith we see God's kingdom sweeping through our world, and we are glad.