Mark 8:11-13 NRSVue
11The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. 12And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13And he left them, and getting into the boat again he went across to the other side.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
There are times, Lord, when I too look for something abnormal to proclaim
your presence. In fact it is all around me. There are signs enough of you in
my every day:
/ One asked a sign from God; and day by day
The sun arose in pearl; in scarlet set
Each night the stars appeared in bright array
Each morn the thirsty grass with dew was wet ;
The corn failed not its harvest, nor the vine --
And yet he saw no sign!/
Reflection
Jesus asks for faith in him and in his words, not in signs and miracles. The
sign given in prayer is simply that we pray; not much may happen, but it is
our time, our love given to God. Our works for God are in action time. Prayer
is time for the heart. God is always at work growing our heart so that it is
more like the heart of his Son.
Reflection
Prayer is a time of faith. Often we get no signs from God of anything more
than the fruit of time spent with God. Feelings are not always high in
prayer, but a grace of growth in faith and love is always given in prayer.
Jesus is not always the man of big signs but is the one of constant and
gentle love, given wholly in the sign of his death.
Reflection
The Pharisees approach Jesus demanding some authenticating sign from God,
some spectacular public display, to test whether he is the true Messiah. But,
with a sigh that comes straight from the heart, Jesus says, "Truly I tell
you, no sign will be given to this generation." Today, people often look for
miraculous signs such as moving statues, revolutions of the sun, or some
other spectacular display of God's power to strengthen their faith. The only
sign that Jesus gives his own life, death, and resurrection.