What signs accompany you?

Good News ReflectionWednesday of the Third Week of EasterApril 25, 2007Feast of Saint Mark, evangelist
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Today's Readings:1 Peter 5:5b-14Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17Mark 16:1520
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What signs accompany you?Jesus says, in today's Gospel reading, that "signs like these" willaccompany Christians, and he lists some really amazing signs! He also mentionsother signs throughout the Gospels. Elsewhere in the New Testament, we see manymore examples of signs that accompany Christians, such as in today's firstreading. Never are miraculous signs meant for self-glorification or self-enjoyment, norto make one's own life easier. Always, they are tools of evangelization. What kinds of signs accompany your daily life? (Ahem, I said DAILY life -- oh,there's the challenge!) What makes you noticeably different from thenon-Christians around you? The word "holy" means to be different fromthe world, set apart from it, belonging not to the world but to the kingdom ofGod. It does not mean "divine" or "perfect" as we mightassume.Are you holy? Yes you are, and I'll explain how I know this, shortly. Do youlive out your holy nature? Yes you do, if you behave differently thannon-Christians. Although you and I have not perfected our holiness yet (and wewon't until we're out of this world and finished with purgatory), we ARE holy.And how can we be sure of this? Because we have the HOLY Spirit living withinus! Our baptisms made us holy. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we renewed ourreliance upon the Holy Spirit to grow in holiness.The question now is: How does anyone else know that we are holy? How does yourspouse know -- and anyone else who lives with you? How does your employer know?If you're a student, do your teachers know? Does your pastor know? Do yourneighbors know? How about your friends? The grocery store clerk? What about thepeople in church with whom you interact in ministry and worship?Don't be surprised by that last question. The divisions and injustices that goon in parish life indicate that we Christians have a lot of work to do to growin holiness.Our faith in Christ becomes known -- and evangelizes others -- by the signs thataccompany us, i.e., the signs of God's presence within us. His love, hiscompassion, his wisdom, his patience, his forgiveness, his humility, hishealing, his wonders -- these make us very different from the world.How do people know that YOU are Christian?