Mk 8:1-10 It Can’t Be Done!

Mk 8:1-10 It Can’t Be Done!

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In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.” His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”

There are many things I cannot do. But there is nothing the Lord cannot do.

To “love the Lord” means to “hand yourself over to the Lord.” It means that your life, your decisions are no longer yours but His. It means your hands and your feet; your eyes and your heart are an extension of His. It means we have been invited by the Lord into a relationship, a partnership, that was made in heaven and to last forever.

By now, we should know the contrary. Those who live for themselves die by themselves. They like to fight major battle all alone, and with a friendly army far behind. Why live like that? Why try to solve all your problems by yourself? Why try to figure out right from wrong, and worry if you are right at all? Why re-invent the wheel each year with every decision you make? Why listen only to yourself and not those who truly love you? Why make life so complicated when it could be so much easier, so much more enriching, so much more meaningful?

You say, “It can’t be done!” I say, “You’re right!” A friend of mine, who was struggling in the seminary, finally broke down one day and told our superior, “I can’t go on. I can’t do this anymore. It’s way too tough. It’s way too much. It’s way too hard! I’m sorry, but I am way too tired.” Our superior, a wise man, told him, “You’re right! You can’t do this! It is humanly impossible. I waited for you to finally come to me and tell me this. But now I want to tell you something. Why not try something different. Why not work with the Lord? Why not place your heart in his hands. Place your life in His life. Live your life each day trusting a little bit more in the Lord?” He did and ten years later was ordained. He told me this story ten years ago. I never forgot.

Don’t forget! Our downfall will always come from a forgetful mind. In today’s first reading, we learn that Jeroboam made two calves of gold and said to the people: “You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” Really? Was he serious? Did he forget Moses and the Exodus story! Did he forget why Moses threw the original tablets to the ground?

Don’t forget! Don’t ever forget the miracles the Lord has done for you! When things don’t go your way, don’t switch from “Plan A” to “Plan B”, continuing working with Plan A and get the Lord involved. Don’t switch from right to wrong in order to get what you want. Continue doing what is right and get the Lord involved. If he wants it, it will happen. If he does not want it, then do not be led into temptation!

Jehmu Greene, a FOXNEWS contributor and paid Planned Parenthood surrogate, recently made this comment, “If it weren’t for contraceptives, women would still be barefoot and pregnant.” I couldn’t believe I was hearing this in the 21^st century! I thought we had gotten rid of all the ignorant people by now! Let us set aside for a moment the stereotyping of all mothers, what Jehmu was attempting to say was, Women have been successful because of contraceptives. She might has well have said that Nazi’s were successful because they exterminated millions of Jews; or women have been successful because they aborted their children; or abused children have become rich because they were abused; or husbands have become successful because their mistresses use contraceptives; or men have become successful because they get their girlfriends to abort their children.

Nice logic Jehmu. Excuse me for saying this but it sounds like the logic of Shamu who bit the head off the trainer who fed her! Jehmu represents the tip of the iceberg of all Opportunists.

We know better. We know how to live life. By now that it should not be taken for granted. Why mess with the Lord? Why try to make it to the top by taking wrong turns? It won’t work. It never has and it never will. Tyrants are betrayed. Devils live in Hell. What’s here is gone tomorrow. The powerful crumble and fall. The conceded and ambitious are knocked to their knees. The cheaters are caught. What’s done in the dark comes out in the light.

Don’t say “It can’t be done!”, unless you are referring to sin. Rather say, “All things are possible for those who trust in the Lord.” And that, we have seen countless times!