Meditation is an ideal way to pray. Using God's word (Lectio Divina) allows me to hear, listen and reflect on what the Lord wants to say to me - to one of his disciples - just like He did two thousand years ago.
The best time to reflect is at the beginning of the day and for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Prior to going to sleep, read the Mass readings for the next day and then, in the morning, reflect on the Meditation offered on this website.
I hope these daily meditations allow you to know, love and imitate the Lord in a more meaningful way.
God bless you!


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Mk 8:14-21 Do You Still Not Understand?

Mk 8:14-21 Do You Still Not Understand?

(Click here for readings)

The disciples forgot to bring bread with them on their journey by boat. Jesus reminds them about the miracle of the loaves. All they need is one loaf. Actually, all they need is one crumb. They need nothing else because God is sufficient. He is enough for us. With God, nothing is impossible, nothing is lacking for nothing was at the beginning of Creation.

Be careful. Watch out! Do not be seduced by the present powers, by temporal possessions, or by the current administration. The Church, throughout the centuries, has seen them all come and go. The Church was there when Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It was there when not a single Christian lived in North and South America. She saw the birth of many languages such as Italian and French. She even helped to create the Slovak language. She saw the birth of nations – England, France, Spain, and Italy to name just a few. The Church was there with the rise and fall of the British Empire, the Nazi power; Fascist rule. She saw with her own eyes the Coliseum dressed in marble and adorned with statues. She traveled alongside Marco Polo and sent missionaries (well before any foreign diplomats) to the remotest of places. The Church witnessed many revolutions: the American Revolution, the French Revolution, and of course the Communist Revolution. Western civilization owes so much to the Church. It was the faith that helped them turn on the light well before their so-called Enlightenment. In summary, the Catholic Church throughout the centuries has seen nations come and go, leaders rise and fall, and modern theories become classic textbook examples of human failures and rational myths.

Today, two thousand years later, the Lord’s words continue to be light to my feet, sweet to my ears and lift up my heart because it is simple: With God, nothing is impossible. These words continue to resonate soundly. They continue to hit home with those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. The Lord’s words, first spoken then written so long ago, continue to have authority because they continue to penetrate into the heart of reality; the meaning of life. Christ’s actions show authority because they truly change lives, and to live is what we all have in common - yesterday, today and forever. Times have changed and eras have come and gone, but man continues to be born the same way the first man was born: naked, cold and frightened. We are born in a foreign land but with so much that reminds of our Home. Christ’s life is of interest to all because He reveals better than anyone who we are and who we are called to be. The only requirement needed; the only prerequisite required is that we use the God given eyes and ears we have to see and to hear the Good News before we begin to fail. Be careful; watch out that your heart not harden or that your tongue grow wicked and your senses – common sense grow weary. This is the only sin that cannot be forgiven: the sin of eyes that care not see or ears that do not hear. Use what the Lord has given to you – all that he has given to you – to see with New Eyes, New Ears, and New Hearts.

Christ is the most real, the most alive, the most satisfying man and God to all. He invites us to be like Him.

“Do you still not understand?”

10 comments:

  1. Dear Father,
    Is it okay to apply common sense and harden our hearts & sometimes wicked tongue toward those, that even though we repeatedly help them (financially, emotionally, time-wise, etc.) do not want to help themselves? How long does God expect us to be patient, when it may be better for them if we just give up.

    (ps. I still don't understand everything about our faith and I love having this forum to seek the answers. Thank you.)

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  2. Yes it is "ok" use tough but honest words when you are trying to knock some sense into people. I believe strongly that charity begins with truth. But I had another very strong motion of the Holy Spirit this morning while celebrating MAss at JPII High School. I hope you don't mind but I will write it here.

    In today's first reading, we learn that the Lord regretted his creation, especially man. He sends a flood to destroy everything except a pair of all living creatures. The Lord wishes to start over again. And he does. The flood not only destroys but it also restores.

    Reading this today, it is a clear invitation to all of us sinners. We can start over again. We don't need to be labeled by our failures and by our sins. We can wash away the past with baptism and with our tears. We don't have to be held hostage by our past transgressions.

    The Lord can take the worst day of our life and turn it into a blessing. The Lord can do all this because he created us and only he can re-create us. How does he do this? By forgiving us. Forgiveness is curative. It heals. It can take the broken heart and put it back together. It can take your tears and wipe them away and turn it all into joy. Forgiveness can only come from God because only the Lord can create. Forgiveness heals the wound we have inflicted on ourselves and on others.
    If I had the opportunity to re-write this meditation, it would be entitled: Starting Over.

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  3. Need to continue here...
    That is what the Lord is doing too. He is re-creating his chosen people: 7 baskets full of fragments = 7 days of creation (perfection).
    12 basket full of fragments = twelve tribes of Israel and now, 12 Apostles. The beginning of a new world.

    Hope that all made sense. :-)

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  4. Dear Father,
    Yes, the part about forgiveness make sense. Because like an understanding parent, God anticipates that we can be weak and grants his children the grace for a Do Over as we learn to follow His rules.

    The part of destroying everyone (except those on Noah's Ark) I'm still grasping with, because why would God destroy the world when He said that He would save us all even if there was only one left in our midst that believed in Him. Surely, not all men were wicked at the time the flood occurred.

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  5. Dear Fr. Alfonse,
    There is so much I would love to say about your beautiful, Spirit-filled words, but the pitter patter of little feet will only give me to time to say,"AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!" Thank you so much! I am inspired once again!!!
    What a gorgeous day God has given us! Let us rejoice and enjoy!!!
    God bless you!
    Jenny S.

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  6. I truly wish to answer the question in regards to babies. We have this idea that human morals are higher at times than God's morals. Is it barbarian that God took not David's life but his new born baby's life? After all, wasn't it David that committed adultery? My opinion is of course it is not barbarian. It is justice. After all, the baby was taken into heaven. David had no right to enjoy the life of this child. David was punished, not the child. The child, a gift from God, was taken away from him.

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  7. Dear Father,
    Thank you. I understand now that even though there were innocent children/babies during the flood, it was the adults that God was punishing.

    Forgive me for continuing to take so much of your valuable time and chipping away at these mysteries but your answer invoked another mystery I can not understand. God places so much emphasis on the concept of unity of family. Will He continue to keep the family together in heaven or will he pass judgement accordingly even if it means the father will be in hell while his children are in heaven?

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  8. Fr. Alphonse,
    I am a relatively new follower of your meditations but I wanted you to know how much I am learning from you. Your writing is a quiet oasis in a busy and sometimes noisy world. Your reflection on having ears to hear and eyes to see reminded me of something that I watched on my lunch hour today. One of the younger women was sitting in front of the television in the lunchroom glued to a soap opera with not one but two phones in her hand. How many people today are spending so much time talking, texting and racing here and there that they
    miss the beautiful things that God has put in our world for us to see and all the things that He has to teach us if we would only pay attention.

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