A WORD FOR TODAY 17 FEBRUARY 2020

A WORD FOR TODAY

LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT SIGNS AND WONDERS.

The tendency we have in this world is to continue to look for God where we could see signs and wonders. We may not be moved by a simple message of the gospel that talks about following Jesus by carrying our cross, but we will jump up and hit our heads on the ground when we hear false prophets tell us that signs and wonders shall happen when we come to their programme.

This is what we see in the gospel reading of today. The pharisees came to Jesus to test Him and requested that He perform signs and wonders for them to see and believe. But knowing what was in their mind, he sighed deeply in the spirit and walked away. This does not mean that He cannot perform signs or wonders, but, the intention of those who asked for it was not to believe, rather to see what they can use to discredit Him as the Messiah. Blessed are those who did not see, but yet believe.

Can Jesus perform signs and wonders? Yes! Can He make impossible situations to become possible? Yes! However, if you do not believe in Him for who He is and only wait to see signs and wonders before you believe, you may end up not receiving the salvation He has come to give.

Life is not all about signs and wonders. Life is much more than it. We must learn to grow our faith in Christ to believe in God for who He is and not necessarily for what He can do, because He can do all things. We must also know that this God who can perform signs and wonders can also let us pass through sufferings and pain and make us carry a cross and follow Him as we see in the first reading of today from the letter of saint James.

In the quest to experience signs and wonders and because of the gullibility of our people to take in anything without reasonable verification and investigation, many have fallen victims to fake pastors and prophets who take advantage of their ignorance and swindle them of their possessions.

Life is not all about signs and wonders. God can also act and be seen in little and insignificant things of life. In sharing laughter, in encouraging others to be good, in volunteering yourself to help clean your environment and your Church, in coming to work on time, in selling goods at the right price and in doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. All these are miracles and they happen if we put our faith in Jesus and let Him make use of us as He wills.

Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do gave a blessed new week. May Jesus help you to grow in your faith so that you know and understand Him beyond signs and wonders. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Meditation: James 1:1-11/Psalm 119:67,68,71,72,75,76/Mark 8:11-13

Watch-word: Show me compassion, Lord, that I may live.

Miracles do happen everyday, open your eyes and your mind and you will see God in the little and insignificant things of life you neglect.

(Monday of the sixth week in the Ordinary Time, Year II)