Mark 8:14-21

James 1:12-18

Psalm 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19

Mark 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?”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you permit me to be tempted. It is an opportunity to resist the way of the devil and embrace the way that leads to eternal life. Help me to persevere on the good path. Strengthen my heart for the battle against evil.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Jesus’ Warning: The Gospel reveals that the disciples of Jesus struggled to understand the recent words and actions of Jesus. While crossing the sea of Galilee in a boat, Jesus puts his disciples on guard against the leaven – the hypocrisy and evil intentions – of the Pharisees and Herod. But the disciples think that Jesus is commenting on them forgetting to bring bread for the boat ride. Jesus asks them to look at their hearts to see if they have hardened them. Do they fail to realize who Jesus truly is and what Jesus is doing?

2. Understanding the Bread Miracles: Jesus leads his disciples in a reflection about the two miracles in which he multiplied loaves for the crowds. He invites his disciples to reflect on the numbers involved in both miracles and understand how they refer to Israel and to the Gentiles. The five loaves, the five thousand, and the twelve baskets refer to the five books of Moses (the Torah) and the twelve tribes of Israel. The seven loaves, the four thousand, and the seven baskets refer to the whole world (the four directions) and either the seven days of creation or the seven nations representing the Gentiles in the land of Canaan. Jesus wants his disciples to understand that the wall of separation between Israel and the Gentiles is being torn down. The Old Covenant is passing and is being brought to fulfillment in the New. Both Israel and the Gentiles are called to table fellowship in the one Kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus and present mysteriously in the Church.

3. Perseverance During Temptation: In the First Reading, James teaches that God is not the cause of temptation. Temptation normally arises from our desires and passions. We can either persevere and not give in to temptation or we can succumb to temptation. The latter leads to sin in our lives. Instead of maturing in the Christian life and persevering on the path to holiness and perfection, the one who allows sin to grow in them is destined to spiritual death and risks eternal separation from God.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, soften the soil of my heart so that I may embrace and welcome your word. I need to die to myself so that I can bear good fruit for your Kingdom. Help me to understand the mystery of your words and actions in the Gospel.

Resolution: God allows and permits us to be tempted. He does not want us, his children, to fail, but rather to resist what leads us away from him and renew our commitment to him. In our battle to overcome temptation and sin, we need to make sure we have not hardened our hearts to God’s mercy. God’s grace is powerful enough to soften our hearts and open them to God. God’s grace does not take away our freedom: we can freely resist divine grace and stubbornly remain in our sin. What will we choose today?