Reflection for February 16 Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 8:11-13

Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.

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Reflection:

The story is told about a woman who wanted to see a sign from her beloved so that she could finally say yes to him. So she said, “If this man brings me flowers and chocolates, that will be the sign that he loves me.” And lo and behold, the man came knocking at their gate with flowers and chocolates. To make a long story short, she finally said yes to him—but after a few months, they broke up.

As we reflect on this story, we are reminded that human love, beautiful as it can be, is sometimes fragile. It can change, fade, or be limited by time and circumstances. Unlike the love of a suitor, which is oftentimes fickle and bound by time, Jesus’ love for us is constant and unchanging. His love is always present—faithful yesterday, today, and forever.

What are the signs of God’s love for us? We see them in the food on our table, in the gift of new life each morning, in the air that we breathe, in the people who care for us, and in the countless blessings—big and small—that fill our days. Each of these is a gentle whisper from God telling us, “I love you. I am with you.”

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, oftentimes these are still not enough for us. We still look for more signs to strengthen our faith. Sometimes, our desire for more signs reveals how weak or uncertain our faith can be. For if we truly trust in the Lord with all our heart, we would rest in the assurance of His love even without asking for more proof.

Instead of continually asking for signs from the Lord, perhaps we can humbly ask Him to deepen our faith, to open our eyes to the many signs already surrounding us, and to help us trust in His love even in moments when we do not feel or see it clearly.

As we journey together in faith, may we learn to recognize that God has already given us the greatest sign of His love—His constant presence in our lives.

Do we still ask God for more signs, or are we ready to trust that His love has always been enough for us?– Marino J. Dasmarinas