“The signs are everywhere!”
We’ve heard that expression many, many times. What does it really mean?
Well for one thing if there’s a sign, someone must’ve placed it for us to see. Also, it doesn’t have to be a billboard or a written letter. Maybe it’s a conversation, maybe a unexpected phone call or visit, maybe an unexpected issue or surprise. How often in that situation have we said, “I think it’s a sign“
But a sign from who? Well, the answer is…..God.
Even for non-believers who may use this expression, without realizing it they are admitting God’s providence in their lives. For who else would or could try to guide us.
Now, its also true that we will see signs and for whatever reason we ignore them. But something inside us knows they were right as time goes by. And many times when we come across decisions in our lives, we can look back and see the signs that were there, encouraging us to persevere or encouraging us to divert.
One that jumps out for me…… When Mom and I were deciding about moving to Tete’s house, I remember lying in bed and praying. “ Please God, if this is what you want for my family, I need a sign, PLEASE”. Well, later that day all Mom’s brothers and sisters, wives and husbands were on the dock and we were talking about what to do with the house now that Tete passed away. When it was asked of us to make this huge commitment, one of your aunts poked me on my back and said look up. There in the sky was a rainbow. But it wasn’t just a rainbow. It was a double rainbow. And it was spectacular. I didn’t need anyone to tell me….. Because I knew, that was the sign I was looking for.
So what does this have to do with Lent? Well I was reading an account in the Gospel of John of the Easter story. John’s Gospel was unique and that it was an eyewitness account.
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
So they get to the tomb and there is the shroud of Jesus lying there. But did you ever wonder why John made a point to describe the head cloth being folded/rolled up separately?? Could that have been a sign? But a sign of what?
Well, whatever they saw, was enough for them, because they believed! But think about it, if there were grave robbers stealing the body, they would have grabbed the body with the linens and all …or…. at the very least they would have been left all messed up. Many scholars think that the rolled up head cloth was “a sign” because at that time the tradition was that when the master of the house finished his meal he would crumple up his napkin and put it on the table. But if the master was coming back, he would fold the napkin and place it on the table.
Jesus rose from the dead and calmly rolled his headpiece and placed it on the side of the table he was lying on.
What was the sign? It was something significant enough for John to call it out.
As we say in every mass.
He died, was buried and rose from the dead. He ascended into Heaven.
And He will come again in glory.
The master of the house is not finished.
Dad’s Lenten Blog 