Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial Feast: Saint Valentine (175-+269) —Priest, Martyr, & Patron Saint of Greetings

James 1:1-11, Psalm 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76, & Mark 8:11-13

In today’s Gospel selection, the Pharisees again are “harassing” Jesus. They are evaluating our Lord by asking Him to give them a “sign from heaven.” Essentially, they want Him to “perform.” Saint Mark says, “He sighed from the depth of His spirit.” Why did the Pharisees need a sign? Had He not done and said enough to convince everyone who He was?

There are times in our lives, I suspect, we ask for some “sign” from God to get us through a rough patch. If we asked God for a sign and received it, did we remember to thank God for responding to our prayer?

Life is not crystal clear, and often we do not sense God’s presence in our lives. At times, God may feel millions of miles away. How do we respond to that sense of absence? Now comes the time for us to decide. Do we turn away from God, or do we continue to trust in Him? May we pray for each other to have absolute trust and belief that God is with us and that God hears our plea for help regardless of what it may be.

Questions of the Day: Are you in need of a sign from God? Are your prayers for others or are you in need of His help?

Prayer: “Be kind to me, Lord, and I shall live.” (Psalm 119)