JESUS ON THE WITNESS STAND

Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
Mt 12:38-42

I often wonder why we need to swear in a courtroom each time we stand on the witness stand. Not that we may not swear inside a courtroom. Not that we cannot swear while standing on the witness stand. Rather that we need not swear at all. If only we were always truthful! Is it the courtroom that makes us truthful? Is it the witness stand that makes us believable? Is it our oath that makes us credible?

Because experience has shown us that we are capable of deceiving and being deceived, we were given a reason to swear even in the most august chamber of justice. Had not the human race learned to fabricate stories, submit false evidence, falsely accuse anyone, make dishonest claims, twist the truth, present half-truths, we would not have resorted to oaths to be worthy of trust and belief. Instead, we would be able to make our word stand on its own.

Jesus alone can make His word stand on its own. He is His word. Jesus alone consistently and constantly stands by His word. He is His word. Jesus alone is worth the word He gives. He is His very word.

No sign is needed to prove that He is what He claims He is: the Son of God. No sign is needed to prove that He is what He does: the Messiah. No sign is needed to prove that He is what He promises Himself to be: the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus is both the reality that signifies and the signified reality. He is the sign and the signified all together at the same time. He is the sign of God’s love for us but He Himself is God’s love for us made visible. He is the sign of God’s presence but He Himself is the presence of God made tangible to us. He is the sign of God’s power but He Himself is the power of God at work in us. So what else is left to signify when He who is signified is already revealed?

This is the first problematic about the demand of the Pharisees: they wanted a sign from Jesus for Jesus. They required Him to prove Himself when He Himself was already the proof. Thus, there was no sign given them by Jesus except Himself. Take Him or leave Him? Take Him.

The second problematic is that the Pharisees asked for a sign to test Jesus. They were doubtful of Him because He did not belong to their clique nor did He fit into their expectation of what the Christ should be. Against whose standard should the credibility of Jesus be measured then? By whose sector should the validity of Jesus be judged then? Into whose expectations should Jesus then fit Himself? Trust Him or test Him? Trust Him.

The third problematic is that it was not really a sign that the Pharisees wanted from Jesus. What they wanted was a proof against which they may test Jesus. A proof may be a sign but a sign is not necessarily a proof. Smoke signifies a fire but a fire does not prove smoke. A fire instead produces smoke and smoke testifies to a fire. The Pharisees were not at all candid about their demand. They looked at Jesus through their colored glasses. They really did not need a sign; they were aching to have a proof by which they could dismiss Jesus altogether, once and for all. For those who believe, no sign is needed; for those who do not believe, no sign will be enough. Believe.

Ask not for a sign from Jesus. It has already been given. Search for it. Demand not a proof from Jesus. It has already been provided. Discern it.

If Jesus were to stand on the witness stand and swear, indeed His words would be: “I promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. So help me, Me.”