Asked him for a sign from heaven

7 MARCH (Lk 11,14-23)

The sign of God is not proof of omnipotence; it is instead the path to conversion, a return to God, inclusion in the law of truth and justice, a help for man to open to the full command of his Lord. The sign is a special grace, the result of the merciful goodness of his Lord, who through the way of the visible wants to introduce his creature into his invisible mystery. The Book of Wisdom deals with an ample argumentation about the role and value of the sign in the economy of salvation.

But as you are just, you govern all things justly; you regard it as unworthy of your power to punish one who has incurred no blame. For your might is the source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all. For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved; and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity. But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency, and with much lenience you govern us; for power, whenever you will, attends you. And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; And you gave your sons good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins. For these were enemies of your servants, doomed to death; yet, while you punished them with such solicitude and pleading, granting time and opportunity to abandon wickedness, With what exactitude you judged your sons, to whose fathers you gave the sworn covenants of goodly promises! Us, therefore, you chastise and our enemies with a thousand blows you punish, that we may think earnestly of your goodness when we judge, and, when being judged, may look for mercy. Hence those unjust also, who lived a life of folly, you tormented through their own abominations. For they went far astray in the paths of error, taking for gods the worthless and disgusting among beasts, deceived like senseless infants. Therefore as though upon unreasoning children, you sent your judgment on them as a mockery; But they who took no heed of punishment which was but child’s play were to experience a condemnation worthy of God. For in the things through which they suffered distress, since they were tortured by the very things they deemed gods, They saw and recognized the true God whom before they had refused to know; with this, their final condemnation came upon them. (Wisdom 12,15-27)

God always treats man as a man. Man is made of matter and spirit, body and soul, of visible and invisible reality. Through the visible he affirms the invisible and by the way of the senses he grasps that which is infinitely beyond them. God is infinitely beyond the senses of men. These could not even catch him, never would they grab him if he did not manifest himself through signs, miracles and wonders; if he did not reveal his truth.

Jesus came. His great love makes him do all kinds of miracles, true signs of his omnipotence. What do the Pharisees and scribes ask? That he shows them a sign from heaven. They do not ask for a sign of love toward man, but a sign in itself, powerful, big and unmistakable. God never made a single sign to show his omnipotence. He has always made them out of love for man and for his deliverance and salvation. The sign shows the infinite mercy of God for his creature.

He was driving out a demon (that was) mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that (I) drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

A love that liberates, saves, redeems, converts and opens to the faith, this is the sign that Jesus leaves as his precious legacy to all his disciples. Everyone can have other signs for himself through his faith. Love instead is a sign to be produced for others, always.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us how to love.