Signs of God's love

“Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.” (Lk 11:30)

How many signs do we need to believe that God is among us? It is a beautiful morning in Boston. Cool with a promise of clear skies and a warm afternoon, it is difficult not to rejoice in the glory of another day. I know there are some, especially the chronically ill, for whom a day like this means little. Others are struggling with family difficulties or the lack of a job that allows them to support their family, but there is no excuse for not breathing deeply, enjoying the simple wonder of clean air and asking God for the faith to live this day fully in Christ.

Jesus warned the people of his day about very similar things. Although he was among them as a clear sign of God’s love, many refused to look at him as a gift to the world and kept challenging him to prove himself according to their narrow standards, but Jesus would have none of it. He reminded his listeners of God’s delight in the willingness of the people Nineveh to repent, and told them not to be vengeful like Jonah who was angry at God for being so forgiving. The message remains constant. No matter how often we turn away from God, God is waiting for our return.

Last evening I had the chance to meet with a small but eager group of young(er) parents who came out on a Sunday evening to learn about family spirituality. No doubt some of them were carrying heavy burdens, but they were willing to put all of that aside to gather with other families seeking a path and a plan to hand on the great gift of faith they had received to their children. Knowing that the methods and style of their parents might fail to move their children, they nevertheless wanted the values their parents taught them to endure. How delighted I was to be with them. To remind them that the church wanted them to see themselves as little churches with their own rituals and prayer life gave me energy, and I hope, stirred up the Spirit of God among them. God is alive and active. They were a sign to me of God’s love and desire for his people. To miss or ignore the signs God gives us each day in the midst of a very troubled world would be to fail like those who refused to see the glory of God in Jesus.

Today, don’t ask for a special sign. Look for and give thanks for the signs of God’s love in the ordinary events of the day.