to see as signs, to know the signs - 34th week Friday holy hour 2017

When doctors make a diagnosis they first look for signs.  They do this first by plain observation.  Depending on your complaints he listens to your heartbeats, he counts your pulse, he listens to your breathing.  By then the doctor may already have some initial findings based on his observation but he wants to be sure so and he uses another tool.  He tells the patient to undergo tests – blood tests, urinalysis, or x-rays.  All these are intelligent guesses based on observations of signs plus his experience.  Now unless the doctor opens you up and sees for himself the diseased organ, he can only rely on signs.  The doctor examines the signs or the symptoms.  And then from experience he tries to understand and know what kind disease is associated with these signs so that he can medicate and begin the process of healing.

Jesus like a good doctor tells us first to see the signs.  The fig tree is budding.  See the signs.  Then it is also important to know what these signs are pointing to.  And so it is important to know the signs, that whenever the fig trees bud, it means that summer is near.

Two important things therefore are being asked by Jesus.  See the signs.  Then know the signs.

Now I want you to apply this to your formation.

First you need to see the signs.  Sometimes you can see the signs.  Other times you do not see them as signs, you do not see them as something that points to a deeper reality or need.  You were already caught several times drinking, smoking, bringing cellphones, doing illegal things.  You were caught, nadakpan, meaning there were many times when you were doing the same things without getting caught.  You can see these as mere violations of the rules.  But no.  Jesus wants us to look at these as signs.  What does these tell you about yourself, what does these consistent and persistent and even hardheaded violations tell you about yourself?  Now you are being asked to look at these as signs, not just as mere violations of rules but signs which speak to you about who you are right now.  Are you treating these as signs?

Or look at how you value your studies, values revealed by your grades?  Or look at your exclusive relationships or your attractions.  Jesus does not want us to just merely look at these as one of those normal process of growth in an adolescent’s life.  No.  He also wants us to look at these as signs.  Signs point to a deeper reality, they indicate a need, they indicate a desire, they indicate a inclination, they can even indicate a vocation.

And so the next step is important – to know the signs, to know how to read the signs, to know what they are pointing to, to know the reality they are revealing about ourselves. A good experienced doctor or spiritual director can help us read the signs.

Two things then:  to see things as signs and to know the signs.

Today we start our recollection.  This is a time to see the signs and know what they mean, what they reveal.

Today too we sit before a sign – the Eucharist is a sign, we see this bread as a sign and we know what this sign is, for the bread before us is not just bread, but Jesus.  He comes to us as a sign, he reveals himself to us in this sign of bread.  And it is truly Jesus in our midst.