SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II 12TH FEBRUARY 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME  CYCLE II 12TH FEBRUARY 2024

James 1:1-11; Ps.119; Mark 8:11-13

God is God besides working miracles

After all the many miracles Jesus had worked amongst the people which were enviously witnessed by the Pharisees, today, they demanded a sign from Jesus. By this request, they demonstrated their utter disregard for what God was doing in their midst. They were not ready to understand God from his general works amongst the people. They wanted to only understand him from his (God) personal action towards them. By asking for signs, they were invariably saying that they will not believe in God unless he does something special for them.

God is ever willing to work miracles amongst his children but we should not attempt to limit him to miracles. God is God besides working miracles. Technically speaking, every action of God is a miracle. It does not necessarily have to meet our expectation or seem so extraordinary.

If we see or define miracles as the only signs of answered prayers, it would mean that we do not subject but impose ourselves on God. As Christians, we are to continue to discover and understand God, not trying to create him as we would wish him for ourselves. To be excessively miracle inclined is a sign of lack of faith.

For so many Christians, whatever does not promise to bring them miracles cannot attract their presence. This attitude is first dangerous because it does not lead one to learn how to give thanks to God. When miracles are seen as the only signs of God’s benevolence, then, when it seems not to be coming as expected, the seeker begins to think that God has not answered the prayers.

Beloved, Jesus sighs when we poorly understand him as a miracle-worker only. Every miracle is a sign that points to Jesus who is the reality himself. If a child is asked to define a concept in an examination, and he only gives examples of the concept (without first defining), he will not earn good marks. In the same vein we attempt a shallow Christianity when we only see God as a miracle worker.