SIGNS

‘People break down into two groups. When they experience something lucky, group number one sees it as more than luck, more than coincidence. They see it as a sign, evidence, that there is someone up there, watching out for them. Group number two sees it as just pure luck. Just a happy turn of chance. I'm sure the people in group number two are looking at those fourteen lights in a very suspicious way. For them, the situation is a fifty-fifty. Could be bad, could be good. But deep down, they feel that whatever happens, they're on their own. And that fills them with fear. Yeah, there are those people. But there's a whole lot of people in group number one. When they see those fourteen lights, they're looking at a miracle. And deep down, they feel that whatever's going to happen, there will be someone there to help them. And that fills them with hope. See what you have to ask yourself is what kind of person are you? Are you the kind that sees signs, that sees miracles? Or do you believe that people just get lucky? Or, look at the question this way: Is it possible that there are no coincidences?’-Graham Hess, Signs

I think Graham Hess got it wrong. There are not two groups of people when it comes to signs such as the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday. There are three: 

1. Those who see it as a meaningless but cool science event with no religious significance.

2. Those who see it as another warning from God that he is willing to chastise and purge the sinful world and that his patience is running out.

3. Those who see it as a confirmation of their own occultic powers and as an opportunity to transition more deeply into the superstitious worship of the god of the self.

For the first group the eclipse stands as a kind of symbol of the contradiction inherent in believing in science over God. They are committed to the darwinian randomness of nature regardless of the human beings' ability to predict with mathematical precision the movement of the planetary bodies. On Monday they will celebrate their interest in cosmology or astronomy as a rare opportunity to see something cool. Many have purchased their special eclipse glasses because it is dangerous to expose your eyes to the sun without a barrier of protection. Ironically, they are blinded to the supernatural world by their closed scientistic world view. 

Signs are useless unless there are people to perceive them as being a sign. A sign is an indicator or warning that something is happening or about to happen. Signs are different from symbols. Symbols are duds; they can’t signify real changes in real time. There is no such thing as someone saying, “Look for the warning symbols”. 

Many Christians see this eclipse as a sign from beyond the veil and the new age pagans, occultic practioners and witches see the eclipse as an omen or a sign of good luck.

For one it is an obvious, ominous warning that God is not pleased with the anti-human, hedonistic lifestyles and amoral excesses of those who embrace the prevalent anti-bible, anti-christ culture. It portends a great judgment and a chastisement. It says loudly to their religious sensibilities, “Repent! Stop offending me. Prepare, Be awake, Be ready”. 

For the other group it is an opportunity to tap into the 'energy' or supernatural power of a reset or a change. It is a sign that the gods or mother earth are pleased with their desire to invert reality and shape it according to personal desires, feelings and whims. It is a seductive confirmation, whispering encouragement, “Keep going. You do you, No one can tell you that you are wrong. You are the god of your own truth”.

What should we think about Monday's eclipse? As people who take scripture seriously but not always literally, we should pray and observe God's commandments. We should love God and love neighbor. We should strive for holiness and cooperate with sacramental grace.

Above all we should remember that God's revelation as a whole is already a sufficient sign of the danger of sin and the just punishments that it brings. Divine Mercy Sunday is a reminder of the willingness of God to forgive. Perhap's the Sunday sign is a reminder of God's mercy as a preparation for the Monday sign of God's coming justice. These two days back to back are a special reminder to Catholics to keep our balance. When it comes to God we find both mercy and justice not either/or. 

We should approach Monday the way we approach every day which is to:  Keep Calm and Pray.