Misunderstanding Jesus

Yesterday, we read where Jesus sighed. Today’s Good News (Mark 8:14-21) looks into another moment where Jesus could have sighed. After the disciples’ answer to his warning, which misses the boat even though they were in a boat, Jesus does not even take the time to sigh but goes into a tirade of questions.. What’s the matter with you guys? Don’t you see? Can’t you hear? Don’t you remember what I did? Don’t you understand?

On a day (Valentine’s Day) that’s synonymous with hearts and love, Jesus is concerned that his disciples’ hearts have hardened; “they have eyes and do not see, listen, but do not understand” (Mk 8, 18).

In Fr. Rohr's reflection he talks about learning how to pray by, "pulling the mind down into the heart" until they both operate as one. 

 I truly think that Jesus wanted to sigh and say to His Father, “they just don’t get it, yet.”

How many times have we heard Jesus say one thing and understood another.

 "Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. "~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lord our God,
when we do not see clear in life,
when suffering comes our way,
we tend to blame you or people.
Help us to realize clearly
how much of the evil around us
comes from within ourselves,
from our greed for riches and power,
from our self-complacency and selfishness.
Speak to us your word of forgiveness
and change us from a silent majority of evil

Into solidarity of love,
by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.