WEBVTT 00:00:00.719 --> 00:00:04.959 There's a moment in the spiritual life that almost no one talks about. 00:00:05.120 --> 00:00:10.240 It's that moment when you already have enough and still are asking for more. 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:13.759 Not out of hunger, but out of resistance. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:16.239 That's what's happening in the gospel. 00:00:16.559 --> 00:00:19.839 These people have just witnessed the multiplication of the loaves. 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:21.440 They have seen a miracle. 00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:23.679 They have been fed by Christ Himself. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:25.199 And what did they say? 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:29.760 What sign can you do that we may see and believe in you? 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:31.839 It's almost unbelievable. 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:33.359 You already saw it. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:38.079 You already experienced it, and still you want more proof. 00:00:39.119 --> 00:00:44.320 But before we judge them, let's be honest, we do the exact same thing. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:46.799 God has already worked in your life. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:48.640 He's already answered prayers. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:52.079 He's provided for you. 00:00:52.399 --> 00:01:03.039 He's given you countless blessings, brought you back when you were very far, and yet with the next difficulty comes, we say the same thing. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:04.799 Lord, I need a sign from you. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:11.680 Lord, if you can just prove this, if you can just prove that you're there and that that just send me a sign, Lord. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:13.840 Uh show me again. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:16.719 But here's the hard truth. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:22.159 At some point, it's not about the lack of evidence, it's about the lack of surrender. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:24.719 Now look at Steven. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.920 Steven, Stephen doesn't ask for a sign. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.560 Stephen becomes the sign. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:36.000 He stands before the crowd and he does something almost unthinkable. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:37.599 He tells them the truth. 00:01:37.840 --> 00:01:41.280 Not gently, not diplomatically. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:47.359 You stiff-necked people, you always oppose the Holy Spirit. 00:01:47.840 --> 00:01:50.159 That's not how you win a crowd. 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:52.400 That's how you lose your life. 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:54.319 That's exactly what happens. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:56.319 They become furious. 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:00.319 They cover their ears, they drag him out, they stone him. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:08.319 Here's where everything changes because in that moment Stephen sees something no one else sees. 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:12.240 He says, I see the heavens opened. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:18.319 While they are all closing their ears, heaven is opening. 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:20.560 Do you see the contrast? 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:25.039 They're shutting everything down and he's being opened up. 00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:27.599 They're filled with rage and anger. 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:29.840 He is filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:35.039 They're taking his life, but he's already living in eternity. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:38.960 And then comes the line that should stop us. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:46.319 As they are killing him, Stephen says, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:48.240 That's not human. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:49.840 That's Christ. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.680 That's the cross. 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:56.240 That's what happens when someone is completely transformed within. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.560 Now, if we go back to the gospel, they asked for bread. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:03.520 Jesus says, I am the bread of life. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:05.520 They wanted something from him. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.080 He gives them himself. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.319 And that is always the tension. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:17.520 Because we want solutions, we want signs, we want answers. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:20.159 God gives us himself. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:29.360 And here's the reality: if you receive what God gives you, but you don't want him, you will always be unsatisfied. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:41.919 But if you receive him, even in suffering, even in grief, even in confusion, even in those moments that don't really make much sense, you will have everything. 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:44.000 Stephen understood that. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:49.120 That's why in the worst moment of his life, he was at peace. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:54.159 Because he didn't just believe in Jesus, he was united to him. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:57.199 So here's a question for this Tuesday. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.319 What are you really asking God for? 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:01.680 Another sign? 00:04:02.240 --> 00:04:03.360 Another answer? 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:04.960 Another solution? 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:07.280 Or are you asking for him? 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:14.240 Because the Eucharist is not God giving you something, it is God giving you himself. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:24.000 And if you receive Him, really receive Him, then slowly, quietly, powerfully, He begins to change you. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:31.839 Until one day, in moments that you would have, moments that would have broken you before, you start to respond differently. 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:37.680 With peace, with strength, with forgiveness, with Christ. 00:04:39.120 --> 00:04:41.759 So today stop asking for more signs. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:44.079 You've already been given enough signs. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:48.639 You've been already given plenty of blessings. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.759 But you've already been given the greatest sign. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:58.160 Come to Him, receive Him, and let Him become your everything. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.360 Amen.