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Tuesday, February 16, 2021

When You Do Not Understand


The WORD today reminds me that I should be sensitive to God's teachings and love, especially when I do not understand what is happening. 

The gospel shows us Jesus explaining something:

Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,
guard against the leaven of the Pharisee
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. They were probably like the people in the first reading, who were living in sin and made God regret making men. They had their hearts closed to God. 

Similar to what the disciples felt in the gospel, 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.

Sin starts with an evil desire. Then when acted upon, changes a person. That is why God felt that way in the first reading. He wanted a clean slate. 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. 

What are the things I do not understand? What is my reaction when I do not understand what is happening in life? How is my relationship with God? How do I handle temptations? What is God telling me today? 

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. 

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-

Ps
See related reflection:


February 16, 2021
Tuesday of Week 6; St. Onesimus

FIRST READING

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, he regretted that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was grieved. 

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.” But Noah found favor with the LORD. 

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. 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; 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. 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.” Noah did just as the LORD had commanded him. 

As soon as the seven days were over, the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace. 

Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, Give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire. 

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace. 

The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters. The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic. 

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace. 

The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, “Glory!” The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever. 

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

ALLELUIA

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

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?”

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