Post-feast of the Encounter; Our Venerable Father Isidore of Pelusium (408-50)
Read
2 Peter 2:9-22; Mark 13:14-23
The numerous miracles, signs, and healings of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry were never done for the sake of themselves or simply for the physical benefit of the receiver. Jesus Christ performed miracles, signs, and healings in order to point the receivers to the greater reality of the Kingdom of God; that by these signs they may recognize and come to know the one true God and His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
How we live as Christians in this world needs to point outwardly, to the active presence of God in our lives and our desire for Him. We must live and act as Christians not to become a spectacle or to attract attention to ourselves and our ascetic or pious living of the faith. We must live and act as Christians with a singular focus: to grow in our relationship with God through our life of faith and good works so that we may encounter our Lord and attain salvation.