In the Gospel, the Pharisees approach Jesus asking for a "sign from heaven." After all the healings and teachings they have witnes...
In the Gospel, the Pharisees approach Jesus asking for a "sign from heaven." After all the healings and teachings they have witnessed, they still want more proof. Jesus "sighed from the depth of his spirit" and refused. He realized that for those who refuse to see with the heart, no amount of external evidence will ever be enough. They wanted a transaction—a "receipt" for their belief—rather than a relationship.
Contrast this with the first reading from the Letter of James. James tells us to "consider it all joy when you encounter various trials." This is a radical statement. He isn't saying we should enjoy suffering, but that we should value what suffering produces: Perseverance.
We often pray for a "sign" to make our paths easy, but James suggests that God gives us "trials" to make our faith strong. This requires Patience. We live in an "instant" world, but God works in "seasons." A plant doesn't grow faster because you pull on it; it grows because it stays in the sun.
True faith is the ability to trust in God's Presence even when there is no "sign" in the sky. It is the wisdom to know that God is often doing His greatest work in us when we feel the most tested. Today, instead of asking for a sign to change your circumstances, ask for the patience to let your circumstances change you. Let your faith be rooted not in what you see, but in the One you know.
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