MIRACLES, sacred relics, thaumaturgical and charismatic events are as embarrassing to the modem world as the old weather diviner is to the Met Office. We are happy to talk of economic miracles and most commercial products are attributed with magical powers by their advertisers Yet modern thought la narrowly rooted in scientific rationalism just as 600 years ago it was narrowly rooted in the superstitions which had encrusted Christianity.
At that time the fathers of scientific thought threatened the very culture of the medieval world; fossilised as it was by an absolutely literal interpretation of the Bible, and believed In constant direct divine Interven
ti°TriOday western thought is equally rigidly fossilised by the belief that there must be a scientific explanation to everything.
We are encouraged to 'identify' Unidentified Flying Objects as space ships from outer space. If the little green men do not exist it is necessary to invent them. Nothing can be left unexplained. We are encouraged to make any hope of faith into the fantasy of pseudo science but rarely asked to have a close encounter with reality physical and spiritual.
This is not to say that we should not try to find scientific and rational explanations for things. In the case of the Holy Shroud of Turin for example, Its guardians show a remarkable lack of faith by refusing to allow it to undergo the process of carbon 14 dating.
Everyone has tripped over the inexplicable at some time in their lives. There is much in the world that science cannot explain quite apart from the fact that scientific thought is based on assumptions which do not encompass the very reasons for life and death.
it s remarkable that the Gospel writers were not obsessed with the miracles of Jesus. They record them and relate the amazement with which they were met. They do not build up Christ as a miracle worker the miracles are signs and are linked with faith. Christ rebuked those who demand a sign Just as he rebuked Thomas for demanding physical proof of his
If we have faith we should not expect constant divine interruption of the laws of nature but It ever happens we should not be surprised.