Memorial of Saints Cyril & Methodius

"Signs for Nonbelievers"

“They were seeking from Jesus a sign from heaven to test him” (Mark 8:11). Even though today’s Gospel reading immediately follows the account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (from Saturday’s Gospel), Mark pictures the enemies of Jesus as asking for a more spectacular sign. Jesus’ answer expresses weariness and anger with their attitude. The Gospels often highlight the apparent unwillingness of Jesus’ contemporaries to go to the deeper meaning of the signs he does.

The fact that people still to this day look for the more spectacular sign – for example the face of Jesus appearing on a refrigerator door, a statue weeping, etc. – suggests a strong moral point. Would there be less of such looking for heavenly signs if Christians were more notable for their consistent and untiring concern for the hungry, the poor and the abandoned? If our cooperation with the Lord in caring for the poor, the starving worldwide, the abandoned, were more characteristic of all of us, would that affect others more positively?

Apparently, the sign of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes did not do it for these Pharisees. But we will notice throughout the Letter of James, which we begin reading today, that the care of the poor and needy is the touchstone for true faith – especially boldly proclaimed in chapter 2. Possibly there will always be the human hankering for the more Hollywood-type signs, but it still seems a good idea – truly essential – for us followers of Christ to show the compassion and generosity of the Lord to the poor and needy among us. Wouldn’t that be a compelling sign for everyone – ourselves included???