Chúng ta thường cầu nguyện xin với Thiên Chúa cho chúng ta những nhu cầu khác nhau của chúng nhưng đôi lúc lại có những thái độ bực tức, chán nản và thất vọng nếu như chúng ta đã không được Chúa ban cho những điều như ý. Đôi khi chúng ta cũng có cảm tuởng như là cuộc sống của chúng ta bị hỗn độn, chán chường và rồi xa rời Thiên Chúa. Có lẽ là đó là một phần của vấn đề của chúng ta khi chúng ta có những sự ngờ vực và khi tâm hồn của chúng ta bị xáo trộnvì sự thờ ơ, chúng ta có thể nghĩ rằng cuộc sống của chúng ta đầy những bão tố, gập ghềnh, và khó có sự kiểm soát được. Những sự nghi ngờ sẽ tự khép cửa tâm hồn và lòng trí của chúng ta, ngăn chặn sức mạnh và năng lực của Thiên Chúa. .
Nhu cầu đòi hỏi các bằng chứng hoặc dấu hiệu của Thiên Chúa là một hình thức nghi ngờ. Khi người Do thái đòi hỏi chúa Giêsu cho họ thấy những dấu chỉ hay những dấu lạ của Thiên Chúa, Chúa Giêsu đã từ chối, Trong thực tế, Ngài nói rằng sẽ không có bất cứ mốt dấu hiệu nào sẽ được đưa ra cho thế hệ đó. Người Do Thái thời đó đã được thấy và chứng kiến những phép lạ của Ngài và nghe những lời rao giảng của Ngài , thì cũng đã quá đủ cho họ rồi. Người ta thường nói rằng là đối với những người tín hữu có đức tin thực sự, họ không có dấu hiệu hoặc bằng chứng nào là cần thiết, nhưng đối với kẻ nghi ngờ hoặc không tin, thì không có dấu hiệu nào hoặc bằng chứng nào thực sự có thể làm cho họ tin. Đức tin ít có ảnh hưởng đến những tín điều hay giáo lý. Nhưng đó là sự tin tưởng tuyệt đối vào sức mạnh , tình yêu và lòng nhân từ của Thiên Chúa và sẵn sàng tiến hành qua cuộc sống mà không làm tê liệt vì sợ hãi. Nếu chúng ta làm được điều đó, chúng ta sẽ nhận được những dấu hiệu đủ loại, bằng chứng là những điều tuyệt vời mà Thiên Chúa đã làm cho chúng ta và những thay đổi đã xảy ra trong tâm hồn, trong cuộc sống của chúng ta. Lạy Chúa, xin cho chúng con có lòng tin sâu sắc để xua tan tất cả những nghi ngờ trong lòng chúng con.
The demand for proof or a sign from God is another form of doubt. When people demanded a sign from Jesus he refused in fact, he said that no sign at all would be given to that generation. They had seen his miracles and heard his teachings that should have been enough. It has been said that for the real believer, no sign or proof is necessary, but for the doubter or unbeliever no sign or proof is really possible. Faith has little to do with creeds or doctrines. It is absolute trust in God's loving and gracious power and a willingness to proceed through life without paralyzing fear. If we do that, we will be given a sign of sorts the evidence of the wonderful thins God has done for us and the changes that have come about in our own hearts. Lord, may deep faith drive away my doubt.
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.” Mark 8:11–12
The Pharisees struggled with skepticism, resistance, and trickery, reflecting the tragic reality of hearts closed to grace. They should have been the first to rejoice in the coming of the Messiah but became Jesus’ staunchest critics and persecutors. Their rejection shows how pride and hardness of heart can blind even those who are most familiar with the law and the prophets. As religious leaders, their privileged role heightened their responsibility to recognize and guide others toward the Messiah, making their rejection all the more tragic.
Instead of manifesting hearts open to grace, they demanded another sign, despite the countless signs Jesus had already performed: healings, exorcisms, authoritative teachings, and the miraculous feeding of the multitudes. These works were displays of divine power and fulfilled Messianic prophecies, revealing Jesus as the promised Savior.
Jesus’ authoritative teaching resonated deeply within those with faith. His words and works illuminated their hearts and confirmed His divine identity. The Pharisees’ demand for another sign was not an act of faith but a manifestation of their obstinate resistance to the truth standing before them.
How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees? “He sighed from the depth of his spirit…” This is a holy response. His deep sigh was not driven by anger or pride but by love. To “sigh” is to express holy sorrow: “Blessed are those who mourn…” (Matthew 5:4 RSVCE). Though we must have holy sorrow in the face of every sin—both our own and those of others—the sin that should evoke the deepest sorrow is that which is committed in obstinacy. Obstinacy blinds us to our sins, leading to rationalizations or excuses that prevent us from recognizing our need for repentance. When the sin committed in obstinacy is grave, this leaves a soul in the most pitiable state.
By modeling holy sorrow, Jesus teaches us how we are to react to others who manifest a similar hardness of heart. We should not take it personally. Instead, we must feel the pain of their sin with empathy. Doing so is the most loving response we can make because our holy sorrow becomes a mirror of their souls, inviting them to recognize their spiritual need and turn to God for mercy.
In addition to feeling and expressing holy sorrow, Jesus declares that “no sign will be given to this generation.” Jesus is not being stubborn or refusing to provide the necessary revelation that the Pharisees need in order to convert and believe in Him. He is doing the opposite. The Pharisees have already been given everything they need to come to faith in Jesus. By refusing further signs, Jesus was confronting their hardened hearts and inviting them to believe based on the ministry He had already given them. True faith arises from hearts that are receptive to grace.
The fact that Jesus “left them” (Mark 8:13) is another act of mercy. By leaving them, Jesus mirrored the spiritual reality of their souls: God was absent from them due to their hardness of heart. His departure also provided an opportunity for the Pharisees to reflect on their rejection, perhaps planting seeds for future repentance. In leaving them, Jesus respected their freedom to reject Him, even as it grieved His merciful heart. Even in judgment, God’s mercy is always at work, inviting sinners to return to Him.
Reflect today on Jesus’ merciful heart. God’s mercy manifests itself in various ways, depending on our needs. Sometimes, mercy is tender and encouraging, especially when hearts are contrite and humble. At other times, mercy is sorrowful and empathetic, mourning over ours and others’ sins. Seek God’s mercy in your life and then resolve to become an instrument of that mercy to others, in the way that they need it, calling them to repentance and faith.
Most merciful Heart of Jesus, Your compassion is profound and Your empathy deep. Please pour out Your mercy on me, in the way I need it, and use me as an instrument of Your mercy for others. May all people see their sins and, with pure hearts, repent and come to faith in You. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I never want to test you or demand a sign. I know that you permit me to be tested, and these trials and temptations in this life are opportunities for me to purify my love for you. I choose you, the holiness of your Name, the coming of your Kingdom, and the accomplishment of your Will.
1. Breaking Down Barriers: Jesus’ mighty works in the Gospel of Mark were not only acts of mercy toward the sick, the suffering, and the possessed, and signs that the age of salvation had come, but they were also demonstrations of his divine power and invitations to believe that he was the Son of God. He just demonstrated his divine power by multiplying bread for thousands of people and by walking on the water. Despite these mighty works, however, the Pharisees persisted in their refusal to believe in Jesus. In the Gospel, the Pharisees came forward and argued with Jesus. They have been against Jesus from the very beginning (Mark 2:1-3:6). The most recent conflict was an argument about the human traditions they added to the Law of Moses. The Pharisees, it seemed, wanted to strengthen and create more barriers between Israel and the Gentiles. But much of what Jesus has done in this “Bread Section” of Mark’s Gospel is to begin to break down the barriers that separated the people of Israel from the Gentiles. Jesus will soon establish the New Covenant at the Last Supper and on the Cross. And this New Covenant will welcome people from all nations into the family of God. The Pharisees, however, were resisting this New Covenant. They preferred the old wine of the Old Covenant.
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.” Mark 8:11–12
Jesus had performed many miracles. He healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and fed thousands with only a few fish and loaves of bread. But even after all of that, the Pharisees came to argue with Jesus and demanded a sign from Heaven.
The response of Jesus is quite unique. “He sighed from the depth of his spirit…” This sigh was an expression of His holy sorrow over the hardness of hearts of the Pharisees. If they had the eyes of faith, they would have no need for yet another miracle. And if Jesus would have performed a “sign from heaven” for them, even that would not have helped them. And so Jesus does the only thing He can—He sighed.
At times, this type of reaction is the only good one. We may all face situations in life where others confront us with harshness and stubbornness. When this happens, we will be tempted to argue with them, condemn them, try to convince them we are right, and the like. But sometimes one of the holiest reactions we can have to the hardness of our heart of another is to experience a deep and holy sorrow. We must also “sigh” from the depths of our spirits.
When one is hard of heart, rational talking and arguing will prove to be of little avail. Hardness of heart is also what we traditionally call the “sin against the Holy Spirit.” It’s a sin of obstinacy and stubbornness. In that case, there is little or no openness to the truth. When you experience this in the life of another, silence and a sorrowful heart are often the best reaction. Their hearts need to be softened and your deep sorrow, shared with compassion, may be one of the only responses that can help make a difference.
Reflect, today, upon any person in your life with whom you regularly argue, especially regarding matters of faith. Examine your approach and consider changing how you relate to them. Dismiss their irrational arguments and let them see your heart in the same way that Jesus allowed His divine heart to shine forth in a holy sigh. Pray for them, have hope, and allow your sorrow to help melt the most stubborn of hearts.
My compassionate Jesus, Your heart was filled with the deepest compassion for the Pharisees. That compassion led You to express a holy sorrow over their stubbornness. Give me Your same heart, dear Lord, and help me to grieve not only over the sins of others, but also over my own sins, especially when I am stubborn of heart. Melt my heart, dear Lord, and help me to also be an instrument of Your holy sorrow to those in need of this grace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I never want to test you. I know that you permit me to be tested, and these trials and temptations are opportunities for me to purify my love for you. I choose you, the holiness of your Name, the coming of your Kingdom, and the accomplishment of your Will.
1. Arguing with Jesus: Jesus’ mighty works in the Gospel of Mark are not only acts of mercy toward the sick, the suffering, and the possessed, and signs that the age of salvation has come, but are demonstrations of his divine power and invitations to believe that he is the Son of God. He has just demonstrated his divine power by multiplying bread for thousands of people and by walking on the water. Despite these mighty works, the Pharisees persist in their refusal to believe in Jesus. In today’s Gospel, they are said to begin to argue with Jesus. In truth, they have been in conflict with Jesus from the very beginning. The most recent conflict was an argument about the human traditions they added in a very burdensome way to the Law of Moses. While the Pharisees wanted to strengthen the barriers between Israel and the Gentiles, much of what Jesus has done in this section of Mark’s Gospel is to begin to break down the barriers that separated the people of Israel from the Gentiles. Jesus will soon establish the New Covenant at the Last Supper and on the Cross and this New Covenant will welcome people from all nations into the family of God. The Pharisees, however, are resisting this.
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come before you on this day seeking to know you, serve you, and love you. Strengthen my faith and open my eyes to see the many ways you reveal yourself to me.
Arguing with God: The Pharisees had spent their entire lives studying the word of God in the Old Testament, yet they failed to recognize Jesus when he was right there in front of them. This is one of many accounts where a group of Pharisees approached Jesus to argue with him, test him, and trip him up. We know they were threatened by his popularity and perhaps they were blinded by their own hubris and sense of self-importance. How ironic that they were demanding a sign from Heaven to test God himself. Of course, we can fall into the same temptation–seeking signs–especially during a time of emotional upheaval when our trust has been shaken. But Our Lord has compassion on us when we ask with sincerity, trying to understand our circumstances and deepen our faith. He also invites us to proclaim, “Thy will be done,” whether or not he sends us the sign we seek.
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