Why not a miracle for all to see?

[StevenFrancis]

Throughout all of recorded history, it appears that God has not been averse to performing miracles, I assume at least partly, to strengthen people’s faith. Why do you think God just allows this for the relatively fortunate few?

I’d like to suggest a really good book. Perhaps, the best on the subject. It is by C.S. Lewis, and is aptly titled “Miracles”.

It was very helpful for me, when I had similar questions.

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25 And when the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord, he said to them, Until I have seen the mark of the nails on his hands, until I have put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, you will never make me believe. 26 So, eight days afterwards, once more the disciples were within, and Thomas was with them; and the doors were locked. Jesus came and stood there in their midst; Peace be upon you, he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, Let me have thy finger; see, here are my hands. Let me have thy hand; put it into my side. Cease thy doubting, and believe. 28 Thomas answered, Thou art my Lord and my God. 29 And Jesus said to him, Thou hast learned to believe, Thomas, because thou hast seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have learned to believe.

 

[petras52]

For the skeptic or unbeliever no amount of proof is ever enough… for folks who believe, no proof is needed. Even at the miracle of the sun, many did not experience it, and they deny anything happened at all.

I don’t think that is always the case. Scripture is full of stories of unbelievers who converted. One example that comes to mind is the story of Saul of Tarsus (St.Paul). If not for God intervening he probably would have continued persecuting Christians.

 

[ThinkingSapien]

This may sound like a silly question, but I am being serious. What’s a “miracle.” Or how is it determined that an event was a miracle?

 

[ThinkingSapien]

For the skeptic or unbeliever no amount of proof is ever enough… for folks who believe, no proof is needed.

I think you are refering to “radical skepticism”, but not skepticism in general.

Even at the miracle of the sun, many did not experience it, and they deny anything happened at all.

That’s a topic that has come up many times in these forums . In the last discussion I recall on it ( ^ ) the result was, as described by one of the participants "spinning our wheels in terms of reaching some sort of middle ground. " It seems to be a difficult topic to discuss.

 

[Ed_Silvia]

While most miracles are for a few, not all are. Example: The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima.

I read once skeptics said The Miracle of The Sun was a form of mass hypnosis and another of late that it wasn’t the sun but a flying saucer and Mary is/was an alien/demon. All this is seen as being part of the end times lying signs and wonders.

The time and place of the miracle was predicted in advance by the children.
I think what’s lost is the eyewitnesses were frightened to death and thought the world was ending. The sun appeared to be crashing into the earth. People fell face down in fear. The three sears weren’t afraid because they could see the Holy Family.

For what was all this? God wanted to spread devotion to Mary & all that it entails.

 

[Alindawyl]

This may sound like a silly question, but I am being serious. What’s a “miracle.” Or how is it determined that an event was a miracle?

The Church considers a miracle to be a wonder performed by supernatural power as a sign of some special mission or gift coming from God. Due to the widespread doubt and the number of charlatans in the modern world, an event is determined to be a miracle only after an extensive investigation provides enough evidence to claim that it was the result of supernatural power rather than a natural occurrence. The Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, which one would think would have only taken a short time to investigate due to the number of eyewitnesses and the large area involved, was not declared to be a miracle until thirteen years later.

The Church is very hesitant to claim that an event is the result of supernatural power if a plausible natural explanation exists. It’s not necessarily a miracle when a sick person who prays for healing, even with many family and friends praying as well, recovers from their illness. We have no way of determining whether it was a supernatural healing or a natural recovery, and the Church would not care to investigate for a miracle in such a situation. There would have to be something unusual going on. If a sick person prays for healing, multiple doctors give the person no chance of survival, the person recovers, and less than a week later they’re running a full marathon with the doctors saying they have no natural explanation for not just the speed of the recovery but the fact that it happened at all, that sounds like a situation worth investigating.