Reflection - Signs

.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112917.cfm
Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
Luke 21:12-19

God’s written memo to King Belshazzar is, I believe, nearly unique in all of Scripture. I’m fairly certain that in only one other place do we read that God wrote anything and that was centuries before this incident in Bel’shazzar’s palace. It was in the book of Exodus.

And Moses turned, and went down from the mountain with the two tables of the covenant in his hands.

And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. (Exodus 32:15-16)

There are multiple incidents where God speaks to men.

The LORD God called to the man (Adam), and said to him, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9)

God said to Noah and to his sons with him, "Behold, I establish my covenant with you. (Genesis 9:8-9)

The LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)

The LORD appeared to Isaac, and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 26:2)

The LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you." (Genesis 31:3)

These incidents are just a few of those recorded in the first book of Scripture, the book of Genesis. And after Genesis? . . . God goes on speaking. He spoke to Moses, to the Judges, to Kings, to prophets. He goes on talking until the Old Testament is completed and the last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptizer, brings God’s word.

In the high-priesthood of Annas and Cai'aphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness. (Luke 3:2)

And even with John it does not end. The book of Hebrews reminds us, in crystal clear fashion, that God goes on speaking.

In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

And the word that Jesus brought was so significant that he exhorted his listeners in all ages to listen and hear:

"Every one who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24

It seems that God never tires of speaking to us. And it also seems notable that the first time He wrote his message it was to tell his people how they should live. And the second time He wrote his message it was specifically to make it clear that his words had not been observed. The very first of his written words was “I am the Lord, your God; you shall have no other gods before me. The second written message spelled out the consequences of ignoring that directive; for Bel’shazzar and his officials had presumed to praise their god’s of gold, silver, bronze, iron and wood with the very vessels that had been stolen from the Temple in Jerusalem. That second message, as we have heard, was written on the wall; and we have carried that image with us to this day.

‘The writing is on the wall.’

‘I can read the writing on the wall.’

‘He refuses to read the writing on the wall.’

And many other variations.

So then, we acknowledge God’s persistent efforts as well as his alternate methods.

God speaks to us in words.

He also speaks to us through the signs of the times.

Jesus spoke to us of these signs.

And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. That is to say: you can’t reading the writing on the wall. (Matthew 16:3)

It is not enough to listen and to hear God’s word. It is also essential to read the writing on the wall, to read the signs of the times. Let me offer an example to help clarify the difference between the two, between hearing the word and reading the signs.

A few decades ago, when I was in parish religious education, I had little trouble reading the word of God. It was not only part of my job, it was something I was personally involved with. Now, that’s not to say that I understood or practiced everything I read. But the Word was close to my heart. On the other hand, I was never very good at reading signs of any kind. Nevertheless, it’s now easy, looking back, to see when God was telling me to move on — the attitude of the new clergy, the change in our office situation, my own outside interests. These, and other things were signs of the times that I wasn’t very good at reading.

God is always offering direction for our lives.

And the times we live in are also offering directions (even if they’re negative one’s) for what is needed in our lives as Christians. We need to be able to read the signs of the times — both those that come from God and those that our cultural would use to deceive us. In the days and years following the Ascension the signs of the Spirit’s presence (or of Satan’s angry persistence — depending on how you look at it) was shown in hatred, imprisonment, family disruption and estrangement. What signs do we read today that would show an effort to subvert our faith? What signs do we read today that tell what God is expecting of us?

When God told Abraham to move did Abraham really hear God’s voice? Or did he just read the signs of the times through which God was giving him direction?