There are signs all around us. So this morning, I decided to count all the signs I saw from my house to the school while I drove. It did not take long for me to give up counting, for there were too many. Upon arrival at the school, I concluded most of the signs I saw were road signs, then advertisements, then brand names, and finally, miscellaneous signs. We all know signs are essential because they provide information, directions, and warning. Without signs, we would be lost, confused, and in danger. Conversely, when a sign goes missing, the consequences can be catastrophic.
One day the Pharisees tested Jesus and asked him to show a sign from heaven. Jesus replied, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, “There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times?” This is a good question for us. We can call the weather, but can we discern the signs of the times? Knowing the signs of the times is crucial for Saint Luke writes, “When you see these things (signs) happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near, therefore, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Therefore he counsels, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on your suddenly like a trap.”
Could we see too many signs that we stop counting them, pay attention to them, and become numb to their existence? If so, the consequence will be catastrophic.