＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Gensis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10

 Yahweh saw how great was the wickedness of man on the earth

And that evil was always the only thought of his heart.  Yahweh regretted having created man on the earth and his heart grieved.   He said, “I will destroy man whom I created and blot him out from the face of the earth, as well as the beasts, creeping creatures and birds, for I am sorry I made them.”   But Noah was pleasing to God.

 Yahweh said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I see that you are just in this generation. Of all the clean animals, you are to take with you seven of each kind, male and female, and a pair of un­clean animals, a male and a female.

In the same way for the birds of the air, take seven and seven, male and female, to keep their kind alive over all the earth,  for in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will blot out from the face of the earth all the living creatures I have created.”  Noah did all as Yahweh had commanded. And after seven days the waters of the flood were over the earth.

 

Ps 29:1a & 2, 3ac-4, 3b & 9c-10

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Mark 8:14-21

 The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then Jesus warned them, “Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” And they said to one another, “He saw that we have no bread.”

 Aware of this, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about the loaves you are short of? Do you not see or under­stand? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear?

And do you not remem­ber when I broke the five loaves among five thousand? How many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Twelve.” “And having seven loaves for the four thousand, how many wicker bas­kets of leftovers did you collect?” They answered, “Seven.” Then Jesus said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

 

Gospel Reflection：

The disciples did not plan ahead. They forgot to bring enough bread for all in the boat. It seems that they are so preoccupied with many details that practical things such as this slip from their minds.

Not only that, the teachings and miracles of Jesus did not sink yet in their minds. Thus they always misunderstood Jesus. It must have been frustrating for the Lord see that His disciples are slow in understanding of the truth.

Yet He did not give up on them. Patiently He accompanied them to the truth. His faith in them did not waver. That is why they, except one, in turn love Him to the end.