The Gospel appointed for today is taken from the eighth chapter of Mark. The first portion of it has the Pharisees confronting Jesus:
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’ (Mk. 8: 11-21).
Why do people want signs? Are you looking for a sign? Jesus tells the Pharisees that no sign will be given to them. In reality, they had signs all around them. Jesus made real the love of God for His people. He cured the ill, fed the hungry and most importantly, forgave sins. The Pharisees were still looking for a sign. They simply refused to open their eyes!
Let us pray: Gracious God and Father, open our eyes to the signs of Your Christ and the open our hearts to the working of Your Holy Spirit. We give You thanks for the gift of our redemption. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.
Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’ (Mk. 8: 11-21).
Why do people want signs? Are you looking for a sign? Jesus tells the Pharisees that no sign will be given to them. In reality, they had signs all around them. Jesus made real the love of God for His people. He cured the ill, fed the hungry and most importantly, forgave sins. The Pharisees were still looking for a sign. They simply refused to open their eyes!
Let us pray: Gracious God and Father, open our eyes to the signs of Your Christ and the open our hearts to the working of Your Holy Spirit. We give You thanks for the gift of our redemption. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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