Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA.

ASK FOR A SIGN…

            How blessed one can be if (s)he is given the chance to ask God for a special sign or gift. How many people get this opportunity? Many were those who were made to wait and wait as the Lord decided on their prayer request but few in the Bible were given the chance to ask for an instant gift or sign. We are told by the biblical writers that Solomon for example was asked to make any request and he asked for wisdom to govern the house of Israel. When Ahaz got a similar opportunity, he made a mess out of it. The inspired writer narrates the event to us graphically: “The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky…” Can you imagine this? How many people in history have gotten this opportunity?

            Now hear what Ahaz said: “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Wow! Ahaz was just hiding behind pious refusal – “…not to put the Lord to a test.” Really? Please do not be fooled by the response of Ahaz because he may have given a good reason but behind that good reason was the real reason. Ahaz preferred an assurance from a human agent (a king) who promised him and his Judean people protection because of an impending war.

            Ahaz’s story may not be too different from the life stories of many a Christian. Each day the Lord assures us of his protection and guidance through his word and yet some of us seek help from witch doctors, soothsayers and other agents of fortune telling. Even apart from this, our world seems to place all our hopes in science and behave as if God does not matter anymore. A wise man once said “do not put all your eggs in one basket…” but for me if I will put my eggs in a basket, it will surely be the basket of the Lord.

            In theology, an aspect that impresses me is that though God choses people to become means through which he blesses his people but if the person decides to serve as a blockage, it does not prevent God from blessing his people. Even though Ahaz did not want to cooperate with God, Yahweh as always faithful to his people made this pronouncement through his prophet: “…listen, O house of David! … the Lord himself will give you this sign: ‘the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.’”

            Emmanuel means God is with us. If Ahaz failed to be with his people and asked for God’s blessings for them God did not fail the people. As much as we continue to pray for our world’s leaders who represent us, if they fail to lead us to God it would not mean that God will abandon us because the “Emmanuel” prophecy still holds its efficacy.

            At his own appointed time God made his prophecy to materialize. The inspired writer tells us of a heartwarming story of how the Isaiah prophecy reached actualization. What Ahaz failed to do Joseph did it exceptionally well. We are told that Joseph encountered the angel of the Lord in a dream. The master plan of God that was laid before Joseph was laced with mystery but he allowed the will of the Lord to prevail. What Joseph does remind me of was an age-old spirituality of the church known as “the spirituality of ob-audire.” Ob-audire calls for total surrender to the will of God to listen fully.

            We are told that when Joseph woke from sleep he did exactly what the angel of the Lord told him in the dream and this is what ob-audire means – total surrender to the plans of God. Did Joseph understand fully what was happening? Not at all but he placed his trust in the providence of God. Likewise, we may encounter so many things in life that we may not understand but we need to put our total trust in God. At times because we are in a hurry to solve our problems we go for quick and easy solutions which in the long run may not help. At all times we need to apply patience in our relationship with God.

            There is no way am I suggesting that waiting on the Lord’s time is easy. It can be psychologically and emotionally demanding but when the Lord finally visits one with his blessings of the “Emmanuel” (God is with us), one’s joys may be without limits. As I write, I can feel that some of you may be waiting for the Lord to answer so many prayer requests but we need patience.

In a week’s time we will celebrate Christmas and I would like to employ one and all to celebrate Christmas with joy and merry making. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.