Send Me A Sign

I see so much of the prophecies about the end of times, and people pointing out signs of the end. Then, I noticed on the 7^th Day Adventist television station, 3ABN, that they were praying for a sign. It really baffled me. My first thought was, “Don’t only the wicked seek a sign?” This led me to open up Scripture concerning the matter, and lo and behold, the information popped right out at me, in the same chapter in Matthew that holds a couple of passages that heavily support Catholicism.

In the first part of Matthew chapter 16, it begins with the Pharisees and Sadducees inquiring about signs from heaven. Christ’s response led to many things that we, as Catholics, hold as our foundation. Christ pointed out that the Pharisees and Sadducees could predict the weather based upon what the sky looked like, but questioned how they could not see the signs of the times. Right before He left them, Christ stated, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.” (Mt 16:4a, D-R)

Following the conversation with the Pharisees and Sadducees, Christ spoke with His disciples concerning doctrine. The teachings promoted were false and dangerous, and contrary to Christ’s instructions. Judaism was the correct faith until the Messiah came to complete, fulfill, and perfect the law and the prophets. Judaism today is now incomplete; our belief and faith in Christ as Catholics is the perfection of the Old Testament, Old Covenant…Old Law. The torch is passed on from the old to the new, through Christ to the Apostles, hence the Catholic Church. Jesus inquired, “’Why do you not understand that it was not concerning bread I said to you: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?’ Then they understood that He said not that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Mt 16:11-12, D-R)

This is as plain as can be. It is extremely dangerous to listen to those seeking the signs, as they are a wicked and adulterous. Adultery is often associated with idolatry, which is being unfaithful to God. We don’t need a sign, nor wisdom, but faith (see 1 Cor 1:21-25). Demanding signs is also a demand that God show us, follow us. The call is for us to follow Him. God needs not prove anything to us. He already showed us, through the old law and prophets, and again through Christ, the Head of the Church.

Reading further, we come upon the passage that many non-Catholic Christians like to dispute, but they are the same group that asks for, and points to, all the signs that aren’t there. Most like to point out that the Greek is a fallible translation to “Peter” actually meaning “rock,” but ignore the fact that Christ would have spoken Aramaic with the disciples. The other name for Peter in the New Testament is Cephas, which, in the Aramaic, means, “Rock,”…PERIOD. That’s the first thing that needs to be identified, as Christ states, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee: That thou art Peter (Cephas), and upon this rock (Cephas), I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:17-18, D-R). Now, THERE’S a sign for you: The sign of Jonah, and naming Simon Bar-Jonah as the first leader of the Church, Christ’s Church, the one that the gates of hell will NOT prevail against. How could anyone be so blind to this, especially when seeking such sign?

I’m constantly accused of explaining away discrepancies about Catholicism, but I can’t find anyone that can successfully explain this defense away. I either experience silence, or other questions to deter from this discussion. I find it best to accept the silence, as the other party is contemplating the explanation, or to gently refuse to move away from the current discussion. Instead of allowing myself to get bombarded with multiple questions, I do my best to stay on the discussion at hand, and agree to answer the other questions at a later time. Always end with a peaceful, “God bless,” at the end of the discussion, to emphasize that we are not in a battle to be the one who is right in the disagreement, but an acknowledgement that we are together to discover the truth together.