Gospel Reflection for February 15th, 2021 — Mark 8:11-13
Today’s Gospel reading reminds me of a 70s song by the “Five Man Electrical Band,” “Signs.”
“Sign, sign
Everywhere a sign
Blockin' out the scenery
Breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that
Can't you read the sign?”
This short passage is actually fairly humorous for those who have ears to hear.
The Pharisees had been following and harassing Jesus since the beginning of His ministry. These are the folks who are the educated, so-called experts in all things regarding the Jewish practice of faith. Rather than sincerely seeking to understand Jesus and His ministry, they were on a fault-finding mission.
Jesus’ ministry was overflowing with signs. Virtually everything he did attest to his divinity and messiahship. Consider what Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist: “Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.” (Luke 7:22)
If the Pharisees were actually sincerely seeking the truth, the signs would have been impossible to miss. So, in my opinion, Jesus is actually poking fun at these Jewish officials.
Jesus came to offer the Good News of Salvation. Even for us today, if you have eyes to see, the evidence is as plain as the nose on my face. From healing the blind, curing the lame and lepers, to helping the deaf hear, and even raising the dead, virtually everything He did and taught were messianic signs. The Pharisees were simply too blinded by their own pride and selfish misconceptions.
Pray my sisters and brothers that your own eyes will be opened to the Gospel Truth. There are a plethora of false teachers, modern Pharisees out there teaching things contrary to the Authentic Gospel. Pray that your eyes and ears will be opened to understand the signs.
Do you know the signs of counterfeit Christianity? Yes, there is such a thing. NO. Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will be saved.” The Bible tells us that only those who “do the will of the Father” will be saved. If the Church you’re attending, or the pastor that you’re listening to is more concerned with modern signs of the times, preaching a new-age morality, your soul may be in mortal danger. The modern, feel-good, and politically correct messages taught by modern so-called, christian churches may sound good and pleasing to the ear, but they are actually teaching worldly wisdom, rather than biblical TRUTH.
Like I said in yesterday's homily, Sin is spiritual leprosy, as deadly to your soul as COVID is to your physical body. Heed the signs, my friends — your eternal soul depends upon it.
Prayer:
Lord, Open the hearts of every visitor to this website, that they may understand the signs. Soften the hearts of the unbelievers, and strengthen the faith conviction of the faithful. Help us who love You, and are called according to your purposes remain strong and firm in our convictions in the midst of the contrary nature of this age. Amen
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GOSPEL — Mark 8:11-13
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He 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.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
