I Saw the Sign

Reflection Date: February 16, 2026 Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: James 1:1-11, Mark 8:11-13

Children of God:
Many Filipinos still remember the hit song from the 1990s entitled “I Saw the Sign.” 

It was played on almost every radio station and even became a dance craze in parties and school programs. 

The melody was upbeat and joyful, making people think it was simply a happy song. 

However, a closer look at the lyrics reveals a more serious story. 

The song describes a couple trying to understand the state of their relationship. 

In the music video, the members of Ace of Base sang while romantic scenes appeared in the background. 

There was also a black-and-white sequence showing a man and a woman sitting together in front of a crumpled backdrop. 

The man left her for a moment but returned with a rose as a sign of love. 

The woman accepted the rose, yet suddenly a bright light shone on her face. 

Drawn by that light, she walked away and abandoned the man, dropping the rose on the chair. 

The refrain of the song declared, “I saw the sign and it opened up my mind, and I am happy now, living without you.” 

Ouch. 

The song talked about looking for signs to decide what to do with life and relationships.

In the gospel story of Mark, the Pharisees approached Jesus and demanded a sign from heaven. 

Of course, they were not asking out of sincere faith. Jesus sighed deeply because their hearts were closed. 

He told them that no sign would be given to that generation. Then he left them and went away. 

What are our inspirations for today?

First, seeking signs is useless when the heart is faithless.

The Pharisees came to Jesus testing him and arguing with him (Mark 8:11). 

They had already seen many miracles. The blind were healed, the sick were cured, and the hungry were fed. Yet they still demanded something more spectacular. 

Their problem was not lack of evidence. Their problem was lack of openness.

Jesus realized that their request was not a sincere search for God (Mark 8:12). 

They wanted signs that would fit their own expectations. They were not ready to accept Jesus as he truly was. 

Because of this attitude, even the greatest miracle would never be enough for them. 

A closed mind cannot recognize God, no matter how clear the signs may be.

In our present life, we can act the same way. 

Sometimes we tell God to prove himself before we believe. 

We ask for dramatic signs while ignoring simple everyday blessings. 

Second, real signs are can be seen if the eyes are truly open.

Jesus refused to give the kind of sign the Pharisees demanded (Mark 8:12-13). 

His life, his words, and his actions were already the greatest signs from heaven. 

The problem was not the absence of signs. The problem was the refusal to see them. 

God was already speaking clearly through Jesus, but they chose not to listen.

The miracles of Jesus were not meant to entertain or impress. They were meant to invite people to conversion and relationship with God. 

But the Pharisees only wanted power, proof, and control. 

Because they failed to recognize the signs already given, Jesus decided to leave them and go to the other side. 

Their unbelief made them miss the grace right in front of them.

Today, we are surrounded by signs of God’s love. 

We see them in family, in second chances, in daily provisions, and in moments of healing. 

The challenge is not to look for extraordinary wonders. The challenge is to appreciate the ordinary miracles that already fill our lives. 

Children of God:
The gospel message invites us to reflect deeply on our own way of believing. 

Like the Pharisees, we sometimes ask God for more proof while ignoring what he has already shown us. 

Jesus reminds us that true belief does not depend on spectacular signs. 

Every day, God speaks to us in quiet and ordinary ways. 

The question is whether we are listening. 

The song says, “I saw the sign,” but the gospel asks what kind of sign we are really looking for. 

Are we seeking God’s will or only our own comfort? 

May we never be blind to the signs that truly matter.