Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Antonio Pegon, SVD – Palawan
Monday 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Missouri, an American state, is nicknamed Show Me A State. People there ask for signs or proofs for any claim or statement one makes. In fact, this happened to me. I was carrying a conversation with my classmate, a sister from the place. In the course of our exchange, I told her that the smallest monkey in the world is found in the Philippines, to which she immediately retorted, saying: Show me! Unfortunately I forgot to bring a picture of a tarsier.
The Pharisees were asking Jesus a sign. They were asking Jesus to show signs and proofs of his claim and his identity. They were asking Jesus to show signs of his genuineness and authenticity. But Jesus would tell them: “This is an evil and unfaithful generation asking for a sign.” See, to ask for a sign is an indication of being evil and unfaithful!
One way or the other, we are like the Missourians and the Pharisees. We ask for a sign or even signs. Yes, indeed, the world is filled with signs we just take for granted. Nature itself is a sign. In fact, everything that is part of God’s creation is a sign, a manifestation of God’s presence in the world. But Jesus Himself is the Perfect Sign of God’s presence, of God’s love and care for his people in the world.
A challenge for each one of us is to make that Sign Jesus Christ visible in the world. We ourselves become a Sign of Jesus’ presence in the world.
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