12-02-24 Ketika Mata Tertutup dan Telinga Tak Mau Mendengar: Mencari Tuhan di Tengah Keraguan

Monday 6th week in ordinary time "Mk 8:11-13" The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation." And he left them, and getting into the boat again he departed to the other side. The Gospel today comes after the multiplication of the loaves and fish for four thousand people. That miracle wasn't impressive enough for these Pharisees who came asking for another sign. There is no worse blind man than the one who doesn't want to see. There is no worse deaf man than the one who doesn't want to hear. For someone who doesn't want to believe no miracle is enough. Those who don't believe in God do not look for proofs of His existence. They reject every argument before it is explained. They are like the lad who was taking driving lessons. His instructor was worried because every time a lorry was coming in the opposite direction the lad panicked and the instructor had to hold the steering wheel. But one day the instructor saw that the youngster had improved. "You seem more confident now", he said. But then it was the teacher who panicked when he heard the reply: "Yes. That's because now, every time I see a lorry coming, I just close my eyes." That's what the Pharisees were doing with the Messiah. But God still has a plan to meet those who don't want to believe. Giovanni Papini (1881-1956) was an Italian writer and famous atheist. No reason or argument was convincing enough for him. Until one day when he went for a walk with a friend – an atheist like him. They found a beggar, blue with cold, stretching out his hand for a coin. Papini produced a coin from his pocket and said with a big grin, "This coin is yours if you utter two or three good blasphemies." The beggar, astonished, hid his hand and walked away, saying "Poor man! God have mercy on you." To be called 'Poor man' by a beggar made Papini think and it changed his life. Keeping his eyes closed didn't take the truth away, like the lorries in the road. That day he 'crashed into' God and became a devout Catholic soon afterwards. Mary, Virgin Most Faithful, I pray through your intercession today for those who don’t want to believe.