May 5, 2002

When people speak of a sign of the times, they usually mean a negative practice or event that points out how badly society has deteriorated. The signs of the times in this week's Scriptures are far from negative. They point to communities that are brimming over with signs that the Spirit is active in their midst.

The New Testament reports to us some signs of the times to help us understand the time in which the early Christians lived. We know that is was not easy and the communities need to stay together for their to survive. It also must have been a time of great change and excitement, based on the good news that has been preserved for us. Mostly, it was time when the Christian community showed itself to be living in the realm of the Spirit.

What did life in the realm of the Spirit look like? Let's look at today's readings. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear of the disciples proclaiming good news, healing, and praying. And, people are listening to the Gospel, being healed, and rejoicing. The psalmist sings God's praises in the midst of the assembly. The author of the letter of Peter teaches with words of wisdom, describing a reverent and prudent community. In John's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that their love and obedience will signal the Spirit's love within them. These are just a few of the rich variety of signs of the Spirit in the Christian community. Are any of these signs visible in the Christian communities of our time?

The rich variety of signs of the Spirit continues in the Church today. This is still a time when communities are brimming over with signs that the spirit is active in their midst, but we might not be noticing God's tremendous deeds when they happen. And, if we do not notice, how can we report the "good news," and the signs that the Spirit of Christ is alive and active in our times?

SO THE QUESTION: WHAT SIGNS OF THE SPIRIT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY HERE AT CHURCH OR AT HOME?

 

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