need to address you who are not part of them.
I now speak to all the rest of you, the parishioners of St. Mary’s
Cathedral Parish. You are the faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus
desires.”
How can I, as among “the few“, in the face of indifference and half-hearted acknowledgment of our intentions for Daniel’s miracle, avoid wasting time by arguing—like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel—over the sign of a “No Mass” that became a Mass, and instead choose to rejoice in exclusion, trusting God’s work in Daniel’s life, rather than arguing with Jesus as others have argued with me❓
Gospel
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.
I find myself wanting to argue with those who have disregarded my request, those who have diminished the full expression of my intention for a miracle for Daniel. But then I remember—Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh. If I trust in their recognition, their approval, their willingness to see the significance of what God is doing, am I not placing my faith in something fleeting❓ I must resist the temptation to argue for what should already be understood.
I have seen how the apostles themselves would argue over who was the greatest, yet Jesus silenced them by placing a child at the center. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. What do I gain by demanding acknowledgment from those unwilling to listen❓ God has already given them the opportunity to partake in this miracle, and if they refuse, is that not their loss❓ Instead of dwelling on what they have rejected, I must place my hope in what is promised.
Jesus puts a child at the centre, presenting the child as a criterion for entering the Kingdom (cf.
Mk 9:33-37).”
Still, my heart wrestles, and I find myself wanting to argue—not just with men, but with God. If this miracle is truly meant to be, why does every step feel like a struggle❓ If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all. Am I clinging too tightly to this world, to the need for validation, for agreement❓ Faith calls me beyond this, to trust that even in rejection, even in silence, God is still working.
Instead of continuing to argue, I choose to rejoice. Rejoice and be glad; your reward will be great in heaven. Daniel’s suffering, my frustration, the resistance I have faced—it is not wasted. I will no longer seek satisfaction in human affirmation. I will trust in the God who hears even the unspoken prayers of the heart.
So just as I surrender my need to argue with our Livestock Guardian Dog, Coco, about her eating hay, so I also release the weight of expectation, the frustration of misunderstanding, the struggle for control. I remain hungry for a miracle, but my hunger is not in vain. I will be fed by faith, not by the words of men- even if…
Some circles maintain that current economics and technology will solve all environmental problems, and argue, in popular and non-technical terms, that the problems of global hunger and poverty will be resolved simply by market growth.
FROM PARAGRAPH 109 OF THE ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME