Signs from God and the language of God
The Bible records the ways in which God has revealed himself to humanity, most fully in the person of Jesus and also in the descent of the Holy Spirit. But since Adam and Eve, God has been communicating with his creation in various ways.
In the first reading today, God himself encourages King Ahaz to, “Ask for a sign of the Lord your God…” Ahaz hesitates at this because he does not want to put God to the test. Later, the Pharisees and others would be criticised for demanding signs.
The prophet Isaiah then says, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” And this is what we hear about in the Gospel reading. Joseph is given assurance by God in a dream that the child Mary is carrying has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.
I think it is a fairly common human experience that we often do not know what we should do. Life throws up all sorts of choices, opportunities and problems. We would like to work out the best way to act. Wouldn’t it be good if God spoke to us so clearly in our dreams, so that we could wake up and act decisively?
I believe that God speaks to each one of us profoundly and frequently, not just now and again. I also think that God uses different sorts of languages with different people and at different times. We need to learn the language of God.
But the biggest issue, I suggest, concerns our listening. We need to learn how to listen to God, especially in prayer. I rarely sense God speaking to me directly in prayer, but I am certain that the good habit of prayer means that we are alert through the day to the signs that God then puts our way.
It has been said that, “God speaks to us in many ways but his preferred language is silence.” If we are faithful in our observance of the Christmas season and if we are prayerful listeners, I am sure that we will all receive signs and indications about God’s will for us and his great plans for our good.
God bless, Fr Kevin.
