Understanding God

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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Gospel of Mark 8:14-21

“Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend?

Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,

how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?

A Lack of Understanding In the Gospel of Mark, we read again about the disciples' lack of understanding.  The way Jesus speaks in riddles and answers questions with questions I don't blame them for being confused! Yet, the disciples persevered and stayed loyal to our Lord. They listened to Jesus and learned from him the best they knew how. As simple Jewish fisherman, some of the apostles may not have been as well-educated and literate as others.  This may have presented more of a challenge to our Lord.  It took longer for his core group to learn.  Their full comprehension was necessary for the spreading of the Truth in ways that will convert minds to Christ.

Harden Hearts  I think if all of the apostles' hearts were  hardened they would not have been as effective in ministry.  They'd be easily persuaded to work on the side of the Pharisees and scribes.  Of course, we already know Judas the Iscariot possessed a harden heart from the very beginning.  He betrayed the Lord in the worst way possible:  by turning him over to the authorities for crucifixion and in exchange for a few silver coins!  Thank the Lord the other apostles didn't follow the same path of evil.

Many times we understand God but choose to not listen and  learn.  We are so "in bed" with our own selfishness that we make the same mistakes over and over. Simply put: Many of us don't want to change.  We are happy in our own sinful ways.  We love ourselves so much we choose to disobey God's Commandments. We love our habits and addictions in ways that turn them into idols of worship.  We love immersing ourselves in negativity more than showering ourselves with the positive light of the Holy Spirit.  

Twelve fragments of bread represent the 12 disciples.  Seven fragments of bread represent the 7 Holy Sacraments.  How many fragments of bread will it take for us to understand God?  It should take only one:  Our tremendous faith.  Faith truly nourishes our hearts and soul!  

Lent begins only in a few more weeks.  This season we should attempt to better understand God in line with Church traditions.  Let's make an effort to attend daily mass as often as possible.  Pray the rosary daily.  Schedule an appointment in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour.  Make a humble and contrite confession.  Discover new ways of helping others.  

-J.