Mark 8:18 “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember?
Based on my recent interaction with my student about that poem and his utter lack of doing anything I asked him to with it, basically trying to plumb the depths to find meaning beyond the surface, if I had to guess Jesus’s tone to the disciples here, I’d say frustrated.
Mark 8:19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied.
Which is ironic to me because the disciples of my youth were not this clueless. They were dependable and reliable. They understood things. So the fact that they—often from the sounds of it—were rather clueless…just like me, brings me some comfort. I’m not the only one. Help me, Jesus.
Mark 8:20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.”
Precious Savior, Thank You for Your patience and grace. Forgive me when I just don’t get what You are trying to teach me. Don’t give up on me. And help me to approach others with the same patience and grace that You show me. Always. Amen.
Mark 8:21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Have a blessed day.