Sign of God

Today’s Gospel Text: Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. Luke 11:14-23

Reflection: A person who does not easily believe could always ask for a sign to believe.  Even the intellectuals would look for a sign but their rational mind betrays them.        

Extraordinary signs or miracles can influence our way of thinking yet in the midst of these signs we could always have people who could rationalize with what they have seen.

One could see a dead man being raised to life and yet not believe but instead rationalize about it either by asserting that the person was never dead or that it was staged managed or the person by chance came back to life.

These are all rational arguments and don’t take long for any mind who hears it to doubt the veracity of a miracle.

On the other hand there could be situations where subtle magic tricks could be used in order to lay claim to a miracle and thus making many who understand these crooked ways doubt the existence of God through generalization. 

In today’s Gospel Jesus perform a mighty sign of delivering a demon possessed man and some of them seek a sign from him after seeing one of those signs in their presence.

Hence miracle are not always a safe bet for us to believe in God and in his intervention in creation, even though God does work miracles in our midst even in our days for the benefit of the simple of heart who would not believe him otherwise.

But still it is no excuse for anyone not to believe in God. If one is earnest with ones rational mind then one has hope but to the one who is dishonest they will never arrive at the doorstep of legitimate faith.

When a sincere heart seeks God in all earnestness, then God reveals himself to them through his many types of leading and even solves the puzzles of the human mind according to the category that they hold on to.

To have such a sincere mind, and giving God a chance to prove his existence and power doesn’t make a person a looser, but not doing could cost them their eternity.  Humbly give God a chance!

Prayer:  O God who reigns in the highest heaven, reveal your presence to those who seek you with an earnest and sincere heart.

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