Reading signs

Matthew 12: 38 - 42

...they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here....now one greater than Solomon is here.

This morning my prayer time was full of distractions. As quite commonly happens my thoughts took me far away from being present with the Lord. Well, I 'came back' time and again, stayed attentive to the Lord, being with him for a while and then got pulled away by thoughts again. In the past I would make it worse by chiding myself for my inattention. Now, I am just thankful that I get to know myself better through this struggle and am humbled by my inability to offer undivided attention to my loving Lord. I notice that each time during the prayer as I find my way back to the Lord's presence, he is still there waiting for me. Such is his love and patience with me. I know how upset I would initially feel if, spending time with my children for an hour, I find them totally distracted, perhaps sending messages with their mobile phone and ignoring me. And yet, come to think of it, if they chose to spend time with me, even though they got distracted in between, I would be grateful and continue to love and be patient with them.

People in Jesus' time, in fact in this case, the religious leaders, asked for a miraculous sign to test him. How we often seek external signs, extraordinary signs before we can trust the Lord's leading. The people of Nineveh were convicted of their sin and they repented when they heard Jonah's preaching. The Queen of the South was attracted by the wisdom of Solomon and made her way to listen to him. Yet here with them was Jesus, one far greater than Jonah or Solomon. What other sign was necessary?

As I read this today, I am struck by the fact that having the risen Lord with me, I actually do not need to ask for 'signs'. The people then had Jesus with them in the flesh and they refused to trust. Today, he is present with us through his Spirit. And yet sometimes we keep asking for signs to assure us. Actually, it is not that God is mean and no longer gives us signs. Our gracious God I believe, is always giving us 'signs' all round us, if we care to pause, 'read' them and learn from them. Like spoiled children who demand big presents, we ask for the extraordinary, while as a loving Father our God gives us many, many gifts. The seemingly ordinary can come alive with deep significance, can become a sign, if we open our minds and hearts.

I believe it will be more fruitful if we deal with our lack of openness first, before we keep pestering God for signs. Our risen Lord walks beside us every day. When we 'listen' he will show us the signs that are necessary for our faith; he will help us to understand them and respond to them in a way that will bring praise and glory to our God.

(Photo: a collage of everyday 'signs'; done by one of the participants at a retreat)