Sparkles of Light (Mk 8:14-21)

14 February 2012, Tuesday, 6^th Week of the Year

 ARE YOUR HEARTS HARDENED?

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?"

Mk 8:14-21

In the Gospel for today we can see how Jesus is saddened because his disciples still didn’t understand who he is.  Jesus warns them not to be alluded with the “leaven” of the Pharisees and Herod, which perhaps indicated how the disciples -- actually the intention of the Gospel according to Mark -- were not really strongly rooted with their faith in Jesus.  Jesus used “leaven” for two reasons.  First, Jesus reminds them about the leaven in the multiplication of loaves, from five loaves and two fish, Jesus performed a great miracle to feed thousands who were there with them.  Secondly, Jesus is the bread of life.  No other “loaves” can offer what Jesus is offering which brings about the eternal life with God.  

Many of our people here in the Philippines are Catholics.  It is saddening to note that many Christian denominations would usually “entice” easily some Catholics who are not deeply rooted in their faith to change religion and join theirs. The usual point of argument that they normally use is that we Catholics have images and we allegedly worship these images which are all falsehood.  We are like the disciples then who can easily be allude not because that the other religious group can’t offer anything better, but because we ourselves as Catholics take for granted our rich and deep faith.  We are then invited to deepen our faith through a desire to know our faith better and Jesus dearly.  This is a serious and also a complex problem that we are facing.  Everyone should work, not only the hierarchy, in order to address this problem.

Even the secular world has many inducements too such as money, greed, popularity, lust, ego, self-centeredness, and many more.  These inducements seem to give such pleasure and contentment in life but it is not.  This brings us far away from God and even the real love of family and friends.  We should be careful of these things, we should not let ourselves be deceived by these worldly inducement.

Today, all over the world, people celebrate Valentine’s Day.  Just like the celebration of Christmas, it has in a sense become a kind of very secular celebration for many people rather than a religious celebration.  Originally, Valentine’s Day is a holiday in the Roman calendar of saints honouring early Christian martyrs especially Saint Valentine.  These are martyrs who gave their life for the faith.  Though this was taken out in the calendar, yet may this be a reminder what Valentine’s Day is all about.  It is not only a day to celebrate love through flowers, chocolates, good date meals and music, or greeting cards.  It is a day to celebrate real love which grows and nourishes the soul, just like the martyrs of the early times.

Let us be steadfast with our fellowship with Jesus through our words and actions so that our hearts may not be hardened.  Jesus is the bread of life and whoever eats this bread shall have eternal life.

St. Cyril, pray for us.