Jesus gave a rather stern warning to his generation when they demanded a sign from him. It was characteristic of the Jews that to demand “signs” from God’s messengers to authenticate their claims. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims, he says in so many words that he is God’s sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven. The Ninevites recognized God’s warning when Jonah spoke to them, and they repented. And the Queen of Sheba recognized God’s wisdom in Solomon. Unfortunately, the religious leaders were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes.
Even now, the Lord Jesus is asking us to believe in him because through the gift of his Holy Spirit, He offers us freedom from sin and wisdom for our lives. Do we thirst for Godly wisdom? The single-hearted Christian desires only one thing — that which is good and ordered according to God’s wise plan. Let us ask the Lord to renew our mind and to increase our thirst for true wisdom.
Let us allow St. Teresa of Avila to teach us that it is Jesus himself that matters, and not his gifts and consolations. This personal relationship with Jesus is nurtured only in faithful prayer and sincere reception of the Eucharist. She said: “Prayer is nothing else but a loving conversation with God who we know loves us. Prayer does not mean thinking much, but loving much. The prayer of union, or union of the will, is the seizure of the will by loving Wisdom. The soul thereafter bears the impress of a divine seal, which although not indelible is nevertheless permanent, and it produces a state of self-abandonment, and suppleness.” Let us ask the Lord Jesus to grant us holy wisdom.
