While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!
The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
When it’s too hard to be patient, it’s easy to demand signs from God. While anxiously waiting, our ears are often plugged with self-doubt and our backs turned away from God’s open arms. It’s no wonder we look for an outward sign. Oftentimes we expect sensational events to confirm what we have already planned for our lives. No matter our plans, God will be sure to meet us wherever we are through messages and messengers we’d never consider as signs. We mustn’t forget to look for God in all things. We must remember that wherever God guides, God provides. Our Creator lovingly awaits to usher us into new opportunities beyond what we could ever imagine for ourselves. Step out in faith without fear of the future. Be comforted in knowing that fear does not come from God and that love casts out all fear.
—Lori Stanley is the Executive Director of Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange, CA.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
—1 John 4:18