Jesus seems to be pretty frustrated with the “dumbness” of the disciples.

 Disciples Having lived with him day and night, They did not really know him.

The teachings and miracles of Jesus did not sink yet in their minds. Thus they always misunderstood Jesus.

 

Yet He did not give up on them. Patiently He accompanied them to the truth.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

James 1:12-18

Happy are those

Who patiently endure trials, because, afterward, they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, "This temptation comes from God." God is never tempted, and he can never tempt anyone. Instead, each of us is lured, and enticed, by our own evil desire.

 

Once this desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom there is no change, or shadow of a change. By his own will, he gave us life, through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him, among his creatures.

 

Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19 Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord

 

＊＊＊ 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 distributed seven loaves to 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 ：

"Understanding God's way." 

Perhaps in our faith journey, we might have already heard of the word metanoia, which is commonly translated as "conversion" or "change of mind/ heart." Metanoia may refer to what is beyond the present mind/ heart that a person has. It may mean having a bigger mind that can understand God's ways or a bigger heart that can serve more people. Metanoia challenges us to shift our focus from the narrow world of the self to a world that is definitely a lot bigger.

 

It invites us not to be consumed by our own concerns but rather by the things that are far more important than our own needs. Jesus' disciples were so much concerned about their own needs. There was only one loaf of bread and they were thinking how one loaf would be enough for all of them in the boat. Jesus warned them about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod – representatives of the burdens imposed on people, as regards people's religious and civic lives respectively. When we are too concerned with ourselves, it is then that we fail to see the things that are far more important.