Seasons of Signs

Showing signs instead of seeking them

07/19/2021

Mt 12:38-42 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.”

One of the most natural and normal things to do is seek some sign of a person’s love and commitment. Have you ever sought a sign from someone? Here are some familiar examples. A girl will seek a sign of a boy’s commitment before she agrees to marry him, like a dazzling diamond ring. No bling, no bride.

A college or university will seek signs of a student’s academic achievement, dedication and discipline before they award a full, four-year scholarship. Bishops want to see signs of a man’s commitment, apostolic zeal and sacrifice in 8 years of seminary before ordaining him as a priest. In all these areas of life it makes sound sense to seek a sign of love and commitment.

But there is another arena in which seeking such a sign is neither right nor reasonable (and downright rude), namely, as our parents grow older. Let me use myself as a prime example. When I go home to visit my parents, I notice they are not as physically fit as they were in their prime. Our conversations sometimes take the slower and more scenic route to arrive at our final destination. And I feel frustrated and sad. Why? Well, because I still seek signs of their youth and vitality, that they will still take care of me like they used to. I feel like a college admissions dean demanding from them signs of hard work, dedication and academic acumen.

What I am discovering, though, is that in the parent-child relationship there is a sort of “season of signs.” What does that mean? Well, parents lavish signs of their love and commitment on their children by bringing them into the world, by feeding, clothing and educating them, by midnight medical emergencies, by driving them to football, cheer, volleyball, tennis games, in short, by working tirelessly so their children would have a better life than they did.

That is what my parents did for me – and much more than that. So, how dare I ask for still more signs of their love? No. Their season of signs is over and my season of signs has begun. It actually began a while back but I did not notice it. In other words, in the parent-child relationship there is a subtle moment that can easily slip by us when children should not seek signs from their parents but rather children should show signs of love and sacrifice for their parents. That is the changing of the season of signs.

In this broader background we might make more sense of our gospel today. The scribes and Pharisees seek a sign from Jesus, but our Lord replies no more signs will be given them, other than the sign of Jonah. Why? Well, because Jesus has come to sort of “conclude” God’s season of signs with the greatest sign of his love and commitment to humanity, namely, the death and resurrection of Jesus.

As Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of the whale, so Jesus would spend three days and nights in the belly of the earth. In other words, the whole Old Testament was the season of signs of God the Father to his children, like my parents lavished signs of their love for me and my siblings for fifty years.

And now notice the subtle shift our Lord suggests. The season of signs is now on the apostles’ shoulders. And what is the rest of the story of the New Testament? It is the apostles – and first deacons, too, by the way – showing signs of their love, commitment and dedication to God and the gospel.

The transition from the Old to the New Testament is a lot like the changing of the season of signs I am experiencing with my parents. They have shown more than their share of signs of love for me; it is my turn to shoulder the seasons of signs for them and others. And that is why the Pharisees and scribes were way out of line to ask for a sign.

Folks, it is good to seek signs in certain situations and circumstances, but not in all. Our relationship to God is that of a child to a parent, where he has given us everything, including his own Beloved Son as signs of his love. Be careful, therefore, in asking for yet another sign from God. Maybe he is asking for a sign from us.

Praised be Jesus Christ!