He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” ~ Mk 8:21

Today, I’m using the Gospel of Mark 8:14-21. In the video, I read it quickly as a way to frame what I share. If you prefer to read it, I’m pasting it below for convenience. I encourage you to read again as a way to frame my reflection.

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?"

It’s a funny story to me because it’s speaking to some of the spiritual challenges I’m dealing with. What came to me through this reading is the contrast between the physical and spiritual worlds.

How I can say I’m trying to be more faithful or I’m trying to follow what God says, but I continue to get lost in the things of the world?

The Pharisees and Herod represent the leaders of the world and then the religious leaders that, allegedly, know all the rules and spiritual truths.

The leaven is a symbol of corruption because it makes things leak out of their natural state. It’s like when you are making bread, you mix the ingredients, and then the dough outgrows the bowl.

How do I take this analogy?

What are the leaders, people, and mentors I’m following in whichever area of life I’m trying to develop saying?
Am I allowing what they say to become my truth as opposed to what it is I intuitively have seen God do for me?

This is how I’m interpreting Jesus’ reminder. Have you just not seen?

Like you just don’t remember the wild things that I created in the past for you? You seem to have forgotten.
Why are you getting lost in this logical and intellectual way of living versus noticing the magical and spiritual moments in your life?
What happened to all those instances where you “coincidentally” were provided for?
Maybe, you needed money and someone just randomly sent you a check or gave you money because they felt called to do it.
What about when you were hungry or hit the bottom of life and someone randomly shows up and helps you back up?

Have you not seen the signs?

Are you not seeing all these moments that brought you here? All these successes and interesting coincidences in life, the people you have met, the places you have been to, the experiences you’ve had that have formed and shaped you to this very moment?

And, how can you see that and not see that those were for a specific purpose? Maybe, they were preparing you for something that you can do later. If you have had those moments, what makes you think they happen going forward on new adventures?

These are the questions I’m wrestling with and I share them with you.

Maybe, I can summarize it with: Do you still not understand all these things were for a reason and they’re going to be there even if you choose not to believe in them?

Let me know what you think.

In peace,

~Juan