Looking around thankfully

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today speak to the freedom that Paul proclaims as one of the gifts of the intimate relationship with the Divine. The son of Abraham, Isaac, who was Sarah’s son, is the son of the free woman. The birth of Isaac, when Sarah was very old, was one path through which the promise to Abraham of many descendents would be fulfilled. Tradition suggests that this special birth was not difficult but free from distress. The psalmist proclaims that the Lord God is to be praised for His help to the needy. He frees the poor and needy. Luke tells of the insistence of the religious authorities for a sign of Jesus divinity. The power of God acting through Jonah to restore Ninevah and the discovery of the “Queen of the South” of the Divine inspiration of Solomon in his wisdom were the signs that Jesus invited his questioners to “see” through reflection on his forgiving and teaching ministry. The “signs” can often be right before our eyes. We can practice “Thanksgiving” and when we look up we will see many signs of the relationship with Divine love already present to us.