“Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?” – Mark 8:18

         There are times when we find it hard to recognize God’s presence in our lives or God’s voice speaking to us through our circumstances.

       I also have those moments, even though I have been striving to follow the Lord closely for decades. When my eyes can’t see past my pain and tears, when I stubbornly stick to my plans or insist on what I want, when I am in a hurry, when I don’t like what I experience, when I don’t spend enough time in prayer and meditation… These are the times when I can relate with Jesus’ disciples who ask Him the wrong questions.

         I also hear these same words from Jesus, “Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?” The good news is that He patiently waits and does everything to get our attention. He also doesn’t give up in teaching us what we need to learn.

         Will you choose to stop, look and listen to Him today? Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag (teresa@fulllifecube.com)

Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to make time for You. Open my eyes and my ears so I can recognize You and learn from You.

Sts. Cyril and Methodius, bishops, pray for us.

In this event, we see God sending a violent flood to destroy the wickedness of the world. Noah alone was found to be righteous, and he and his family were saved. This story prefigures many theological studies including that of the Final Judgment. God will judge us according to our actions and there will be no escaping this. Let us live righteous lives like Noah.

5 When the Lord saw how great was man’s wickedness on earth, and how no desire that his heart conceived was ever anything but evil, 6 he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved. 7 So the Lord said: “I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the Lord. 7:1 Then the Lord said to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just. 2 Of every clean animal, take with you seven pairs, a male and its mate; and of the unclean animals, one pair, a male and its mate; 3 likewise, of every clean bird of the air, seven pairs, a male and a female, and of all the unclean birds, one pair, a male and a female. Thus you will keep their issue alive over all the earth. 4 Seven days from now I will bring rain down on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and so I will wipe out from the surface of the earth every moving creature that I have made.” 5 Noah did just as the Lord had commanded him. 10 As soon as the seven days were over, the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

1 Give to the Lord, you sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise, 2 give to the Lord the glory due his name; adore the Lord in holy attire. (R) 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of the Lord is majestic. (R) The God of glory thunders, 9 and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The Lord is enthroned above the flood; the Lord is enthroned as king forever. (R)

We are called to be leaven in the world and to be witnesses of the Gospel. If we do this well, then our society will see the truth of the Gospel. If we do not  do it well, then sin will prevail. The choice is ours as to what sort of witness we will be to the world.

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one  loaf with them in the boat. 15 Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

think: In what areas are you still unsure about God’s provision?

Read the Bible in one year  2 Corinthians 5-8

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

The Gospel of Mark seems to place the disciples in a constant state of disbelief and misunderstanding. They just don’t seem to get what Jesus is all about. In the Gospel today, we catch a glimpse of the stupidity of the disciples. Mark gives us the opening clue — they forgot to bring bread. So when Jesus tells them to be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees, they were wondering about the amount of bread they brought with them.

       Yeast was a common metaphor for evil and corruption. A little yeast was mixed in with a batch of flour and water to assist the dough. A little corruption on the part of the Pharisees could see the rising of anger and dissension among the people of the nation to see Jesus put to death.

      Be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees — the teaching and false interpretation they give to sway others from the truth. If our faith is not strong, we will also be swayed by every kind of strange doctrine. We must seek to learn and understand our faith. At times, we are called to give an answer for our belief as Catholics. Many are confused and do not understand and will look for us for counsel and advice.

       People will have opinions and interpretations of one kind or another. We should allow our conscience to be formed through the resources available to us — the Bible, teachings of the Church, the Catechism and traditions of the Church. Our lives must be formed in truth and not corrupted by the yeast of false interpretation and misleading doctrine. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

What areas of your Catholic faith do you not understand? What can you do to understand it better?

Lord, give me the grace of wisdom and understanding as I put my trust in You. Amen.