…Jesus 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."… ( Mk 8:11-13)
God is good, all the time.
Friends, Jesus tells a group of Pharisees in today’s gospel that this generation will not receive evidence from heaven concerning him. The Lord says, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."
The response exposes the Pharisees' ill intent hidden in their request. These people had come to ask for signs to test him and use it to denounce him as the Messiah. For they were notorious for not recognizing any of his previous miracles; they even called him Beelzebub, and they are seeking new ones?
It is amazing how Jesus' response has been understood by Christians of all generation and become the foundation of our Christian belief that God does not accomplish miracles to convince us of his presence and love.
God is with us; he is so close to us already. Like Saint Augustine, Aquinas, and the church fathers, Catholics unanimously believe in the same ancient and ever new experiences that in the Bible, in the Eucharist, in the Church, in all Christians' faith we find God.
When we pray and hope that God will heal the sick, remove pain and misery from us so that people can get on with their lives, we are also convinced that our faith does not rest on such prayerful desires. May God give us the grace and courage to always follow him unconditionally. Amen.