Daily Gospel Reflection
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February 17, 2025
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus,
seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.
He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
“Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Then he left them, got into the boat again,
and went off to the other shore.
At first glance, it is easy to look at the Pharisees with disapproval for their “lack of faith” as shown by their request for a sign, but as I further reflect on this gospel passage, I realize that it actually serves as an examination of conscience and reveals to us that we are not much different. Sometimes, we, too, seek the signs and not Jesus himself.
How often in my own life have I also argued with the Lord as I have sought a sign from him? Prayers like “Jesus, give me a sign so that I can have clarity about my vocation,” “Jesus, give me a sign I should apply to this job,” and “Jesus, give me a sign about whether I should initiate this tough conversation,” have filled my prayer journal for as long as I can remember. It is natural to prefer an easy black-and-white answer over the risk involved in trusting in the Lord.
But the reality is that Jesus’ answers to my prayers have not been that simple and have taught me that signs cannot be the basis for my relationship with Christ. Yes, the Lord has indeed worked countless miracles and wonders in my vocation, career, and friendships and has taught me so much about trusting in him, but never the way I had scripted it out in my head.
In the tension of seeking the sign, waiting in the “not yet,” and receiving the answer, the Lord has worked so much healing and purification of my desire to help me realize that it is Jesus I truly need and Jesus I truly seek—not the sign, clarity, or particular answer. May we remember to trust, to abide in Christ, and embrace the “not yet” regardless of signs and circumstances!
Prayer
Father, send your Spirit to strengthen our faith. May we not seek signs but believe in you and what your Church teaches because you have said it and your Word is true. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Alexis Falconieri was a wealthy noble in one of Italy’s most wealthy and cultured cities, yet he left that life behind him when Mary visited him and asked him to dedicate his life to God. The spirituality he helped forge continues to shape the world, and even reaches to Notre Dame.
He was born in Florence in 1200, the son of a wealthy merchant. Even as a child, he was known for his piety and humility.
As a young man, he joined an organization dedicated to honoring the Blessed Virgin, and in 1233, he and six other men from this group received a vision of Mary. She asked these seven young nobles to dedicate their lives to God, and they did, founding a religious order. They took up a common life together, and were later again visited by Mary, who held a black habit and told them, "I have chosen you to be my first Servants, and under this name you are to till my Son's vineyard. Here, too, is the habit which you are to wear; its dark color will recall the pangs which I suffered on the day when I stood by the cross of my only Son.”
They named the community the Order of the Servants of Mary, now known as the Servites. The order spread, especially through Germany and France, and within a few years, some 10,000 had joined their community.
The Servites were the first to promote a special devotion to Mary under the title, Our Lady of Sorrows. This devotion had a great impact upon Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross—he placed the Congregation under her patronage. The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, Sept. 15, remains an important day in the lives of the priests, brothers, and sisters of Holy Cross.
After receiving his vision of Mary, St. Alexis left all he had, took on a vow of poverty, and depended upon others for his food and shelter. Just months earlier, he had been seen as one of the most prominent nobles of Florence, and now he was wandering the region begging alms for the support of the Servite community.
His humility remained a defining characteristic—he thought himself unworthy to seek ordination to the priesthood. Alexis lived for 110 years, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Alexis Falconieri, who left a life as a prominent noble to become a humble servant of Mary—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Alexis Falconieri is in the public domain. Modified from the original. Last accessed January 23, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
