Gospel
Mk 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.

Reflections

The story is told of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson on a camping trip. As they lay sleeping one night, Holmes woke Watson and said, “Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson said, “I see million of stars.” Holmes asked, “And what does that tell you?” Watson replied, “Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.” “And what does it tell you?” Holmes answered, “Somebody stole our tent.”

For the Pharisees, observing what they saw in order to determine Jesus’ full identity included his miracles. For us, observing what we see in order to understand God better includes the whole universe. We are so used to thinking of religious revelation coming into the world by thunder and lightning, miracles, and blinding visions that we too easily forget that spiritual truths are right here, right before us. They are just too obvious for us to notice.

Jesus had been working miracles: Though the cures he worked were signs of his goodness of heart as much as of his power, that shouldn’t have detracted in any way from the divine value of these signs. But the Pharisees wanted things to be done in a manner that seemed good to them. When jealous and suspicious people tested Jesus and looked for some heavenly sign, Jesus sighed in the depths of his being.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees’ suspicion, fear, and jealousy was to get into the boat again, go off, and leave them.