Signs @ EDSA

It is a beautiful world and we see but a small portion of the bigger picture, which is even more awesome in its beauty and its goodness. There are always abundant signs that point to a bigger and more magnificent reality. Where there is smoke, there is fire as its source; then all the beauty and goodness around us must point to a similar source. If dark clouds augur the coming of a storm and behind each storm a silver lining; then consolation and joy will also eventually dispel the clouds and darkness in our lives.

It was Pope John XXIII who first spoke about reading the signs of the times. God moves on earth and He leaves behind a trail of signs of where He has passed through. Good Pope John called us to read these signs and follow where the Lord has trod on in our lives. He did and he brought about changes the Church like no other Pope in recent memory.

Today is the anniversary of the historic EDSA Revolution, when and where Peaceful People Power became a reality. It was a sign of God being incarnated once more in our times. For four blessed days, the Lord walked that stretch of highway with His mother. No one saw them and yet everyone knew they were there: people, practically strangers to one another, arms locked together to form a barricade against tanks; people keeping vigil in prayers to guard the rebels in their lairs; endless stream of food coming as if from nowhere to feed the millions who were there; soldiers refusing to fire on the defenseless civilians while young students offered them food and flowers instead; not one act of violence and not a single casualty reported. God was with us on EDSA. We knew because of the signs.

A great temptation is to ask God for a sign of His presence. Rather, I ask for the grace of discernment for me to see the signs that He leaves in my life of His abiding and loving presence.

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
~ Psalm 51
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”
Luke 11:29-32
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