Lord, Give Us a Sign

Discerning When You Need Another Sign

Have you ever read a passage from the Gospels and thought, “How could they miss it?” That’s exactly the thought that comes to mind when we reflect on how the crowds witnessed Jesus perform incredible miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, even raising the dead—and yet immediately turned around to question Him.

“By what authority do you do this?”
“Show us a sign.”

But... wasn’t the miracle the sign?

It’s easy to be baffled by their blindness. And yet, if we’re honest, don’t we often do the same? How often do we sense what God is asking of us—through prayer, Scripture, a comment from a friend—and then pause and say, “Maybe I need another sign. Maybe I need just a bit more clarity.”

There is, of course, a certain humility in not rushing to conclusions, especially when discerning something important. We don’t want to project our own desires onto God’s will. But at some point, we have to stop asking and start following. As Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice... and they follow me” (John 10:27).

A Billboard-Sized Sign

I’m reminded of a testimony from Fr. Mark Riley. He had been discerning a call to become a missionary in El Salvador. Time and again, signs appeared—through people, Scripture, even a rainbow in the sky—but he kept asking for more clarity.

Finally, while on retreat at a hotel, he cried out to God: “I just need an obvious sign!” He opened the curtain in his room—and there was a billboard directly outside his window that read: “If not you, who?”

Fr. Mark laughed and said, “I closed the curtain.” But he went.

Sometimes, the signs are that obvious. Sometimes, they’re more subtle. But God speaks.

How We Encounter Christ — The Four "Kisses"

At every Mass, the Church offers us a profound lesson in discernment and hearing God’s voice—through what are sometimes called the Four Kisses. Each one is a powerful reminder of Christ’s presence among us, and a guide for how we can learn to recognize His voice in our lives:

1. The Kiss of the Stole
   When the priest puts on the stole, it is a reminder that he acts in persona Christi—in the person of Christ. This represents the teaching authority of the Church. God has not left us alone to figure things out; He has given us the moral and spiritual teachings of the Church to form our consciences. If you’ve been taught the truth, don’t doubt it—remember your training.

2. The Kiss of the Altar
   This sacred space is where the miracle of the Eucharist happens. Jesus becomes truly present—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Christ may not thunder from the heavens, but He appears gently, humbly—as bread and wine. And yet, we know it is Jesus. In our lives, too, He often speaks gently, quietly. We must learn to listen in stillness.

3. The Kiss of the Gospel
   After proclaiming the Gospel, the priest or deacon kisses the Word of God. Why? Because it is alive. “The Word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). If you want to hear God's voice, read the Bible. Listen to it at Mass. Reflect on it. God is not silent—His voice echoes through every verse of Scripture.

4. The Kiss of Peace
   During the sign of peace, we encounter Christ in our community. “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). So often, God speaks through others—friends, family, a homily, or a chance conversation. Pay attention to those moments. They may be the confirmation you’ve been waiting for.

Do Not Harden Your Hearts

So after all this—His miracles, His presence in the Eucharist, His Word, His Church, His people—how could we still doubt?

And yet... we do. Just like those in Jesus’ time, we often find excuses not to follow Him. It’s too hard. We’re not ready. We want one more sign.

Let us pray, then:

“Lord, be patient with us. Be merciful. We can be stubborn and slow. But when we hear your voice—harden not our hearts.”

In the Heart of Christ,

Fr. Michael Stalla