DO WE STILL NOT UNDERSTAND? – 02/15/22 (Tuesday)

Mark 8:15-18

15 And He cautioned them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16 And they discussed it with one another, saying, "We have no bread." 17 And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

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Blessed Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time! Jesus told the disciples to remain guarded from the leaven of Herod and the Pharisees. This was a reminder that they should not be scandalized by their sins because if they did, their hearts would remain closed to Christ. If we remember, the Pharisees witnessed the miracles of Jesus, but they did not follow Him, and they hated Him because they wanted to continue with their pride, corruption, rigidity and other sins. King Herod knew that he was committing sins such as adultery and that St. John the Baptist was innocent. But, even if he was somehow able to know this truth from God through his conscience, he continued living a sinful lifestyle, and he authorized the killing of God's prophet. However, the disciples remained worried because they only had one bread. They still did not understand our Lord even after witnessing how Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000 people and 4,000 people. 

A leaven is an ingredient that makes a bread rise, and this can signify that Jesus wants us to remain low and humble. When Jesus Christ asked them if they had ears but could not hear and eyes but could not see, He wanted them to practice humility by acknowledging their weaknesses. Like the disciples, we can be scandalized by many people around us. When we see the examples of some people who do not discern God's will and live His teachings, we can be influenced by them. It's possible that we can forget God's presence and fall to our worries, discouragement and sins. Do we still not understand? Do we not yet see God's will for us and listen to His voice? God calls us to practice humility by admitting our sinfulness and weaknesses, especially when we encounter such temptations. We should acknowledge how easy it is for us to forget the presence of the Lord if we depend on our own strength and understanding. 

At the same time, God allows us to experience many temptations in life for us to persevere in our spiritual journey. May we pray, not because we are already holy, but because we want to be holy. Everytime God asks us the question of whether we still do not understand, let's humbly tell Him that we are poor sinners in need of God's graces. Let's also remain firm in staying away from occasions of sin. If we choose the path of humility, we will be blessed by God with protection from temptations, and He will reveal to us our resolutions to avoid sins and despair. Patience can only be rewarded when it's tested, and the crown of eternal life awaits us in heaven. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic