Signs

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:1-12 ESV

People see what they want to see. We all make decisions about how we look at the world, how near or far we will focus, and what we will chose to ignore. Today we are encased in fog and the sound of the foghorns echoing across the water is constant and profound. The visibility is very low today and so people cannot even see what they normally do. Some people act oblivious, but we all know that our vision and understanding can be limited and compromised by where we stand, who we are and what's going on around us.

Jesus is challenged by the religious leaders for a sign. He has fed thousands, healed many, and uncountable numbers of people have been transformed and given a new life. But they want more. Because of who they are, where they stand, and what's going on around them they fail to see so great a cloud of signs, wonders and witnesses. They are so concerned about control and power that they cannot see what is right in front of their eyes. They are so anxious to be right that they fail to acknowledge what they truly have seen. God's love was right in their faces and they turned away, looking elsewhere for the incarnation. We can chose this day to see the abundance of blessings and miracles in our midst, or we too, can turn away.

I pray today for vision that is not corrupted by my own jealousies, fear and worries. I ask God to help me see all the wonders and signs of love around me. May I be ever ready to embrace those living signs of God's presence in my life. May we all live with eyes open for the presence of God's love, new every morning.