Have you understood what Jesus is about?

"LORD, THAT I MAY SEE."

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY ACCORDING TO THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY, 

Gospel

Mark 8:14-21

Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod

1.      The disciples had forgotten to take any food

2.      and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

3.      Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’

4.      And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’

5.      And Jesus knew it, and he said to them,

6.      ‘Why are you talking about having no bread?

7.      Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear?

8.      Or do you not remember?

9.      When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’

10. They answered, ‘Twelve.’

11. ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of scraps did you collect?’

12. And they answered, ‘Seven.’

13. Then he said to them, ‘Are you still without perception?’

 

Jesus severely reprimands his disciples for their dullness in understanding him and his message. Do we understand any better? The apostles had not yet seen his Death and Resurrection nor experienced Pentecost. We have experienced them all. There is no excuse for us baptised people for being so dull in our response to Jesus. God has blessed us with the light of the Lord Jesus. Still, we may be living in darkness.

The message of the Gospel of Mark is that we are living in enemy-occupied territory. Satan has taken possession of this world and deceives everyone, encouraging them to sin against God and so join him in eternal enmity. Jesus has come to destroy Satan in a war that will last till the end of time. Jesus will be victorious but not without a severe cost to himself. Satan tempts Jesus in every way without success and so unleashes on him the Passion in the hope that he will lose his faith in and love for God. He does everything but here too without success. Jesus dies humbly and lovingly on the Cross. God declares him the victor in the Resurrection and Satan the loser. Creation will eventually be the property and realm of Christ the King.

Though his back is broken Satan continues to roam the world. We must face his attacks and the suffering they cause. He will try everything to destroy us. Life is a warfare. This we must understand and be ready for it. On the battle front we don’t look for comfort. We are ready to attack the enemy. So should we be. The enemy may well wound us. However, if we stay close to the Victor, he will not overcome us.