Today's first Reading contains these words from Isaiah: "Therefore the Lord will give you this sign...." Isaiah wrote these words to give a sign to King Ahaz (a 7th century BC King). Now we, most familiar with New Testament ways of understanding, believe the words we meant to speak of Mary and Jesus.
Historically, these words a sign given to the king and his people as a guarantee for the continuation of King David's lineage. The words would be a reminder to the king and the people that Yahweh had not abandoned them during the war they were fighting.
Signs point to or indicate something other than themselves. Along our interstate highways we see signs that guide us to hotel accommodations, restaurants, gas stations, etc. However, signs of something else are not always as clear as highway signs. This is so true when we are confronting challenges that bring us beyond ourselves.
What are the signs for us, for example, when we are confronting crises in our personal lives, in our community life, or in our national history. If we look, we will find signs of God's presence, God's intention. If you recall all that happened on "9/11." Surely God was not present in the initiators of the disaster. He could not be in their evil deeds. He is all good.
Look, however, beyond the tragedy. Look at all the goodness that the evil prompted: the bravery of firefighters, police and transit officers, emergency personnel; the outpouring of millions of dollars from people who knew no one killed, injured or forced to suffer loss of loved ones or property; the care given families who lost a father, a mother, a son or daughter, or a sibling; the love in those who gave burial places for the dead; and the care of those who comforted those who were searching for victims.
In any crisis, any difficult moments of our lives, we must look, we have to discern the presence of God to find a meaning, to come upon a solution.
Signs point to or indicate something other than themselves. Along our interstate highways we see signs that guide us to hotel accommodations, restaurants, gas stations, etc. However, signs of something else are not always as clear as highway signs. This is so true when we are confronting challenges that bring us beyond ourselves.
What are the signs for us, for example, when we are confronting crises in our personal lives, in our community life, or in our national history. If we look, we will find signs of God's presence, God's intention. If you recall all that happened on "9/11." Surely God was not present in the initiators of the disaster. He could not be in their evil deeds. He is all good.
Look, however, beyond the tragedy. Look at all the goodness that the evil prompted: the bravery of firefighters, police and transit officers, emergency personnel; the outpouring of millions of dollars from people who knew no one killed, injured or forced to suffer loss of loved ones or property; the care given families who lost a father, a mother, a son or daughter, or a sibling; the love in those who gave burial places for the dead; and the care of those who comforted those who were searching for victims.
In any crisis, any difficult moments of our lives, we must look, we have to discern the presence of God to find a meaning, to come upon a solution.
