Sign of the Times

With modern technology it is just about impossible to not know where you are located. GPS in our phones and even our watches leave us with a false sense of security that we can never be lost. If you’re like me, you have found yourself in that one place with no signal and no location.

Just when our phone has no signal, we are left to our own senses to determine our location. We are forced to look around and recognize our surroundings. It helps to always know where we are ‘just in case’ our phone battery dies. At least we can look around and know where we are.

At that time, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus 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 shall 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, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matthew 16.1-6

Take just a moment and turn off your technology and ‘look around’ at your surroundings. What do you notice about society? At first glance you will notice everyone is focused on their phones rather than the world around them. You might be the only one looking around. That isn’t good.

We must take notice of those around us. The only way to know Christ is to know others. The Pharisees demanded a ‘sign’ from Christ that He was God. Instead, He scolded them that they were ignorant of the signs around them. We are ignorant of the signs around us too.

There are people suffering. There are children lost in darkness. There are entire communities searching for hope. The storms have descended upon our neighbors, and we just sit staring at our phones. If want a sign from God, we only need to see our neighbors’ suffering.

Signs from God are for those with the faith to understand them. “No sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days. Christ was in the tomb for three days. People without faith were looking for a whale. They never saw Christ.

If you are reading this blog, chances are you are already a believer in Jesus Christ. You may not be Orthodox, but you already believe in Christ. You don’t need a sign. You just need to see Christ in others. You just need to pay attention to their suffering.

Look up from your phone long enough to see others around you. The story of Jonah can also remind us of those in our communities who struggle with forgiveness and faith. The story of Jonah can also remind us of those who think only of themselves. Jonah was forced to see others.

The greatest sign of the times is that we are intensely focused on ourselves rather than others. I pray the reminder of Jonah and the need to consider the needs of others will get us back on track. Nobody enjoys being lost. Nobody enjoys being without hope.

We can help, but it begins with taking notice of those around us. They are signs we should be looking for, rather than cloud shapes and miracles. If we can’t understand the signs of those in need around us, we will never recognize the supernatural signs from Christ.