From today’s Scripture: “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” —Mt 12:38

The word “teacher” and the demanding tone told Jesus this was not a request for his wisdom but a challenge he had received before.

In the early 60s, Glenmarians heard similar words from pastors of small churches in the wilderness. One such example was the time we packed our truck and entered deep South Georgia. The heat was really difficult: 100 degrees by noon. We put up our two polled tent and visited homes in the county. By 4 pm, I was soaking wet. I had two houses to visit. I offered a pamphlet with our pictures and an invitation to hear our quartet, pray with us.That second house stood waiting. As it turned out this was the local pastor’s house. He didn’t like me! After a 10-minute battle with words, I said, “I’ll see you later.” Remember this was the sixties. My attitude has changed. So have the attitudes of pastors of many small churches.

Now we can have regular dialogues. Some of our men are invited to preach in other Christian churches. What a great gift of grace. How we need each other to be the bearers of Jesus’ message of love.

Let us pray: Jesus, we call on your Spirit to draw us together. May we be one in heart and mind and see the new day when we will be able to love each other and be ministers of the poor and sing Alleluia together. Amen.

Today’s author is Father Wil Steinbacher. He has served as pastor of a number of Glenmary missions, in prison ministry, as director of the Glenmary Research Center, and in Glenmary administration.

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