Sighs and signs

He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” - Mark 8:12

The Pharisees were always trying to test Jesus, and it is obvious in this verse from St. Mark's gospel that it sometimes got to him. We don't often hear that Jesus sighed from the depth of his spirit, but it would be a sure sign that he is frustrated. In this case, they were looking for a sign from heaven which would verify his claim of having come from God, proof that he was who he said he was.

Even today people seek signs from above, although more often than not they do not have the same motives as the Pharisees did with Jesus. Most often today, people who seek signs are looking for hope rather than proof. What we need to realize is that God is not some magician who is going to perform when we ask him to. The problem is not a lack of signs but a lack of discernment. The signs are there. The question then becomes are we too blind to recognize them?

Today and everyday our challenge becomes to not put God to the test, but rather to read the signs around us and have true faith and hope.