Word of the Week

Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sign: Semeion (Gk.): means “a sign” or “miracle”, behind it stands a Latin term that means “to mark or stamp”

Miracles are signs of wonder that manifest the glory of God. Such miracles include restoring the lame and sick to health, the dead to life, and the controlling of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power. In particular, the miracles of Jesus were messianic signs that made present the Kingdom of God here on earth. These signs were a testimony to affirm who he said he was, the Messiah, but more importantly, they were wonders that helped strengthen the (CCC 547-548).

Sign is used 77 times in the New Testament and is most prevalent in the Gospel of John. “John reminds us that the signs of Jesus are just not mighty works, but miracles that unveil the glory and power of God working through Jesus Christ” (Hahn and Minch, 21). In addition, the signs point to Jesus as a new and greater Moses, as they rekindle the glory of Yahweh working through Moses during the Exodus (Num.14:22) (Hahn and Minch , 21).

A portion of John's gospel is known as the Book of Signs. The Book of Signs includes a series of seven miracles that John uses to communicate the purpose of God's coming (see aforementioned paragraph on CCC definition). Among the seven signs, was the raising of Lazarus (this week's readings, Cycle A Fifth Sunday in Lent). This great miracle was not only an anticipation of the last and climactic sign of Jesus in the Resurrection (Jn.20:1-10), but also a testimony of both the humanity and divinity of Jesus at work. In his humanity, our Lord weaps (Jn.11:35) at hearing of the loss of Lazarus, revealing the full range of human emotion. In his divinity, Jesus in dramatic fashion raises Lazarus from his grave. Consequently, we can begin to understand Jesus as a new and greater Moses where he will raise us up on the last day. We experience this in a most tangible way in the Eucharist. In this great sacrament, we are taken from our exile here on earth into the life and mystery of God.

The virtuous person is one who is a sign and beacon of hope to others. In accepting the Father's will, we impress the stamp of Christian love upon our immediate vocation. In this way, we bare the mark of Christ and are signs of wonder to the world. We are called to be perpetual signs of contradiction to the culture of death and ambassadors of Truth to the culture of life.  

“Sign is a thing that which causes us to think of something in addition to the impression it makes upon the senses.”

- St. Augustine of Hippo

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.
• Hahn, Scott and Minch , Curtis. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of John, RSV, 2nd ed. San Francisco : Ignatius Press, 2003.

The Catholic Hour Home Page
Comments or Questions?
Contact Webmaster