Sixteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." He said to them in reply, "An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights."

We have been given our sign. It is the sign of the cross, a sign of God’s Compassion, Forgiveness, and Love. No other sign is necessary for our salvation than Christ hanging on the cross, not in defeat, but in triumph. It is on the cross that he forgave us for our sins. It is on the cross that he promised us eternal life. It is on the cross that he gave us our spiritual mother. It is on the cross that he offered us the hope that overcomes all despair. It is on the cross that he showed us what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is on the cross that he reminded us of the sacrifices we will have to make in order to accomplish God’s Will. It is on the cross that he revealed to us the importance of placing ourselves into the hands of our Heavenly Father. And when we take these together, we cannot help but see that behind every cross is the Risen Lord, Our Savior.

Are we looking for signs like the scribes and Pharisees? Or is our attention focused on the cross and its promise of resurrection? How can we make the sign of the cross the heart of our faith lives?

O Lord, your cross is the only sign we need.

Amen.