sign language
"Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God." —Isaiah 7:11
When we want a sign from the Lord, He often says: "This is an evil age. It seeks a sign. But no sign will be given it" (Lk 11:29). However, when we don't want a sign because we already have our minds made up, the Lord often commands: "Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!" (Is 7:11)
We may already have our Christmas made up. We've planned it to go a certain way. We don't want to even entertain the thought of Christ changing things at the last minute and messing up our Christmas plans. Yet, the Lord commands: "Ask for a sign. Let Me start to change your mind and open your eyes to My plans for you this Christmas season." When the Lord speaks to us like that, we hope we aren't hearing Him. The Lord realizes this, so He tries to draw us into conversation with and conversion to Him with "sign-language."
Ahaz refused to ask for a sign (Is 7:12). Mary accepted God's signs and said: "I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say" (Lk 1:38). Are you going to be an Ahaz or a Mary this Christmas? Let Christ be Lord of your Christmas.
Prayer: Father, I will listen to You when You say things I don't want to hear.
Promise: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the holy Offspring to be born will be called Son of God." —Lk 1:35
Praise: "O come now, Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at Your will the gate of heaven: come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead Your captive people into freedom."
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Hearing God, or our audio AV 45-1 or video V-45.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 27, 2011
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