Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 13, 2024

Date: Tuesday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time  

Scripture Text:  Mark 8:14-21

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?"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from Mark reveals the disciples’ lack of understanding of Jesus’ power. Though they had been present for his healings and miracles such as the feeding of thousands with paltry amounts of food, they were concerned when they realized they didn’t have enough food. Jesus asks them, “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…?” Jesus’ message applies to we disciples even today. Do we believe in the power of Christ?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I bring my needs to Christ with faith? Do I allow Christ to be Christ in my life? Or do I still insist on being self-reliant?

Praying:

LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, we invite You this day and all days into our minds and hearts, into every corner of our lives. We embrace your teachings and examples, and we turn to You in our needs knowing that You hear our prayers. Send your Spirit to strengthen our faith, to enlarge our hope, and to deepen our love so that we might open ourselves entirely to You and the Father. Remain in us, LORD, Jesus, and grant that we may always and everywhere seek to remain in You. Amen.