St. Mark 8: 11 – 26

February 14, 2023

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

I love our good and gentle Jesus. But I have to tell you, I love it when we can see the ‘human’ in Him, lol. Verses 17 and 18 just make me chuckle! That’s the kind of exasperation I’ve often felt dealing with folks who ought to know better! Like my children. Or my husband. Or the cashier at the grocery store. ‘Fess up now; you’ve sometimes felt that exasperation as well.

Since we are not – and can never be – Jesus, those times verses 17 and 18 come into play in our lives, we need to remember verses 21 and 22 – of St. Matthew’s Gospel (chapter 18):

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

I’m working on it. Sometimes I’m at 3, sometimes I’m at 100. It’s a process, a concerted effort on my (our?) part. What is it they say about addiction? “Recognizing you have a problem is the beginning of solving the problem”. Sigh. I keep working on it. ‘ I’m a fallen and broken human, true; but I have my Hero to show me the way.

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