The Cross Is The Only Sign

𝐅𝐄𝐁. 𝟏𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐒𝐈𝐗𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝟏: 𝐉𝐚𝐦 𝟏:𝟏-𝟏𝟏

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟏𝟏𝟗:𝟔𝟕-𝟔𝟖, 𝟕𝟏-𝟕𝟐, 𝟕𝟓-𝟕𝟔 “𝐁𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐌𝐊 𝟖:𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟑

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐧𝐨 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭.” (𝐯.𝟏𝟐) 

         Today’s Gospel provides us with a sign of the stubbornness of the Pharisees as they kept pressing Jesus for a sign from heaven to test him. This is nothing new. There are many among us who are also like the ancient Jews in the way we practice our spirituality.

         The scenario in today’s Gospel reading is an example of how we at times can mask our own refusal to accept the realities of life by asking for signs. I am a sucker for signs in my youth when I base my decisions on signs, gut feel, and circumstances.

         These Pharisees were not the only ones who asked for signs. Many among us have prayed and asked God to give us a sign to guide us in making a choice or to confirm that the decision we are about to take is right or wrong.

         In other words, many have developed the habit to ask God for signs before planning especially an important one. There are those who will ask for a rainbow to appear during the day. Some would ask for the scent of fresh flowers.

         What’s funny is that when there are no visible signs that come, and when there seems to be no signs coming, I tried looking at things around me and imagining these to be the sign I’ve been waiting for, and I will work around that. There were times too that I’d spent the whole day waiting for God to give me the sign I asked but it proved futile and I really looked foolish to be doing that.

         Jai-Alai and Horse Racing were my favorite places I frequented in my youth, and I remember that I would jot down the numbers that repeatedly appeared before me on my way to the fronton and to the racing tracks as the sign and I would bet on those numbers. Of course, it was a hit or miss thing. And I can’t help but give it a laugh when I recall those times. Folly of my youth.         

         Looking for signs has become a habit to some especially those who subscribed to the traditional superstitious beliefs that have been handed down to them by their elders. They could be their parents, relatives and or friends whom they respect and whose word they value as being anchored on truth.

         There’s a warning that one is not to pass under a stair or ladder. You should not proceed when a black cat crosses the street. You need to throw away a cracked or broken mirror. You are not to go out or travel when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday. The number “7” is a lucky number and so on and on.  

         Some of these signs people grew up with are not actually bad and many of these are simply used as a guide to avoid bad luck or misfortune and one that is so familiar is that we are not supposed to sweep the floor at night and if it could not be helped the dirt should be kept inside and or thrown in a waste bin but should never be swept towards the door at night. The belief was that luck and or your fortunes will be swept away too.

          When we subscribed to these repeatedly, many of these signs become a habit that there are some whose lives are totally anchored on signs. Then the ageless tradition of the Chinese also took root in the Philippines and other places such that “feng shui” is now being incorporated into the design of buildings, condominiums, houses, offices because feng shui brings in good vibes or fortune.

         The Pharisees in this gospel narrative of Mark are also asking Jesus for a sign notwithstanding the fact that the days or weeks before this encounter with the Pharisees the life of Jesus was replete with exciting events such as the feeding of the 5,000 Jews, walking on the water, a discourse on what is clean or unclean, the healing of the demon-possessed daughter of a woman in Tyre, the healing of the deaf and mute man in Decapolis, and the feeding of the 4,000 who followed him for three days and had nothing to eat.

          Aren’t these events miraculous enough that the Pharisees still asked Jesus for a sign from heaven? (𝐯.𝟏𝟏). Haven’t these religious leaders seen enough? Didn’t they themselves admitted he spoke with authority and were amazed when the deaf and mute man began to speak?

         But before he responded, Jesus heaved a deep sigh which only shows that there was exasperation on the part of Jesus as he was confronted with the Pharisees whom Jesus knew were merely testing him and that they will not be convinced nor reconsider their steadfast opposition and dislike for Jesus regardless of the signs that are before them.

         It was not just an exasperation, but Jesus was grieving when he heaved a deep sigh for the hard-heartedness and stubbornness of the people to whom he was sent by God. In the same way, Jesus grieved at the hardness of the hearts of the Pharisees who accused him of violating the Sabbath when he healed the man with a withered hand (𝐌𝐤 𝟑:𝟓) and, as when he sighed when he healed the deaf mute (𝐌𝐤 𝟕:𝟑𝟒).        

         Because of their stubbornness, Jesus said no sign would be forthcoming (𝐯.𝟏𝟐) and he left them (𝐯.𝟏𝟑). What then is the message for us in this Gospel passage? Many times, we look up to heaven to ask for a sign especially with regards to our commitment to serve. Why then don’t we ask why some vacillate in serving the Church or Community?

         Because to do so would separate us from the world of comfort and convenience, luxury, the good things in life and we will be ushered into a world of sacrifice, service, discomfort, inconvenience and suffering, pain and persecution. These are two types of situations that are poles apart.

        Thus, we become discriminatory in the way we serve as we go to mission areas that offer premium accommodations, where we know we will be treated with royal reception. In other words, we serve where it is convenient, where we liaise with those who belong to the same life standard as we. Worse, we dictate the time and place where we will serve.

        What was evident in this Gospel passage as well as in the other events that tell of Jesus heaving a sigh was that this was a sign of love and compassion of Jesus because when he sighs it was either an expression of his deep regret at the Pharisees who refused to listen to his message of salvation or it may be a manifestation of his love and care to those in need.

         In our case, have we ever considered how Jesus feels and or how he would sigh if we kept on rejecting his invitation for us to love and serve him, when we don’t trust and obey his Word, when we keep testing him by our disobedience? When our conduct and behavior is no different than the Pharisees of his time? When we are ruled by love for the world instead of love for God? Don’t we see our lives as a miracle that we keep on waiting for signs?

        Today, why don’t we ask ourselves how Jesus looks at us in the way that we relate to him. Will his sigh be an expression of great joy or will his sigh be in exasperation for our disobedient heart. Supposing we put this Gospel passage in reverse. Instead of asking Jesus for a sign, why don’t we look at Jesus as the one looking to us for a sign.

         What sign are we willing to give or show him so that He who created us and gave us dominion over all that he has created will be pleased? For us Christians, there is no need to look and ask for a sign.

        The sign is right there in front of us and it’s the only sign that we need to look at. Yes, the cross is the only sign we will ever need. And when we look at the cross, we must not forget to look at the man who is nailed to the cross. Because that man is the sign of our salvation. And when we do have the chance to look at the cross, making the sign of the cross means we believe and have been saved. (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 - 𝘍𝘦𝘣. 16, 2026)

        For the Reflection, go to: https://edmalay.wixsite.com/bld-reflectblog