Lately I have been given a great joy to baptize Isaac, the son of Margaret and Peter. When I was going to do the ceremony some people asked me why I wanted to baptize this boy myself. Well, I said the he is a miracle boy. However I would rather call his a sign boy. In the Gospel of St John, the Apostle doesn’t use the word miracle to describe what Jesus performed but he says about the signs Jesus given. A miracle just focuses on the extraordinary element of the event while a sign points out to the mystery beyond this world. A few years ago when I was appointed to a parish in NSW I first met Margaret and Peter. It was when they lost their little baby Georgia. One of the first ministries I did there was to bury the little girl. The following year when they were awaiting the birth of their son they lost him too. I did a burial again. Jordan was buried in the same grave with Georgia. However it wasn’t only about burials it was also about great faith of Margaret and Peter. They stood by each other with love, commitment and hope. As a priest I was humbled by their faith. They didn’t accuse God, they didn’t complain. They showed such deep trust in the Lord. Although they didn’t have a chance to watch the babies grow they loved them dearly. Georgia and Jordan have been their family. The way Margaret and Peter speak about those little ones is the best sermon on the Communion of Saints I have ever heard. They live the belief that there is an exchange of love between them.
A few months ago when Isaac was born I saw him not simply as an answer to prayers of so many people but as a miracle or better to say a sign. I believe that by the birth of this little boy God has spoken to me and to others who want to hear him. What God spoke is: “Trust me. Don’t get discouraged by what you are going through. Love me and love each other.” I am grateful to Margaret and Peter for “preaching” to me so much about faith and trust in God and about grooving in love for each other in the midst of so much suffering.
A few months ago when Isaac was born I saw him not simply as an answer to prayers of so many people but as a miracle or better to say a sign. I believe that by the birth of this little boy God has spoken to me and to others who want to hear him. What God spoke is: “Trust me. Don’t get discouraged by what you are going through. Love me and love each other.” I am grateful to Margaret and Peter for “preaching” to me so much about faith and trust in God and about grooving in love for each other in the midst of so much suffering.
Miracle or sign?
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