When You Do Not Understand

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/021318.cfm) reminds me that I should be sensitive to God's teachings and love, especially when I do not understand what is happening. 

 

Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod." 
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
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?

We can see that Jesus was not referring to physical bread. The warning was not because they were not able to bring bread. He was able to feed thousands, why should Jesus be concerned about their bread? In Matthew 16:11-12, we see that he was referring to the teachings or beliefs of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Herod. These people have their hearts closed to Jesus. They were not living in the light. They rejected Jesus and his teachings. This is why Jesus was warning his disciples to be on their guard so they don’t act like these people

Sometimes we too don’t understand what is happening. We forget the great things Jesus has done for us, and we tend to worry about material things, about things in this world. The Lord’s prayer asks us to pray in faith and confidence ‘Give us this day, our daily bread.” When we pray, we should have faith that God will provide. If we serve God, if we seek his will, we can be sure that all other things will be given to us (Matthew 6:33). May this give us strength and inspire us to continue to trust in God.

We also don’t understand why we are tempted. We question God why he is tempting us, or why he is testing us. The book of Job tells us that God allowed the enemy to tempt us (Job 1:12) but God did not do it. Today’s reading tells us further that God do not tempt us..

No one experiencing temptation should say,
"I am being tempted by God";for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

As we can see, sin starts with an evil desire. This brings us back again to the gospel – to look what is in our hearts, to see what we believe in, because these beliefs inside us are what causes us to sin. As they say, what causes dirt comes from inside, not from outside. We need to examine our hearts. What we believe in. What we value. 

May we pray for faith to trust in God’s will and his perfect plan, even if we don’t understand everything, and may we pray that God continue to bless our hearts to seek and follow his will in our lives, knowing that our lives would be more meaningful once we live in the light of Christ. Like the psalmist says “ blessed the man you instruct, O Lord

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for not being sensitive to you. Sorry for focusing on the wrong things. Sorry for being hard headed. Sorry for the times I am insensitive and I do not understand you. Be patient with me. Help me humble myself. Guide me. Help me do my best to be aligned with you. I have faith in your great power and love, and I know you will guide and help me live right and pleasing to you. Amen. 

 

Blessed Day!

 

In Christ,

-g-

 

 

February 13, 2018

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 336

Reading 1 JAS 1:12-18

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,
for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life
that he promised to those who love him.
No one experiencing temptation should say,
"I am being tempted by God";
for God is not subject to temptation to evil,
and he himself tempts no one.
Rather, each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire.
Then desire conceives and brings forth sin,
and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters:
all good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Responsorial Psalm PS 94:12-13A, 14-15, 18-19

R. (12a) Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD,
whom by your law you teach,
Giving him rest from evil days.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
For the LORD will not cast off his people,
nor abandon his inheritance;
But judgment shall again be with justice,
and all the upright of heart shall follow it.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.
When I say, "My foot is slipping,"
your mercy, O LORD, sustains me;
When cares abound within me,
your comfort gladdens my soul.
R. Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

Alleluia JN 14:23

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

Gospel MK 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,
and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.
Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisees
and the leaven of Herod."
They concluded among themselves that
it was because they had no bread.
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?
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?"