Gospel
Mk 8:14-21

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?”

Reflections

In the Gospel, Jesus warns his disciples against being infected by the
skepticism and cynicism of the Pharisees who had turned religion into
a game. He uses the disciples’ physical hunger to speak of a deeper
spiritual hunger that can be satisfied by the Eucharist. The
Eucharistic celebration that gives us spiritual nourishment is more
than the mere reception of Holy Communion. All these different parts
of the Mass put together form one single movement that provides the
strength we need for our spiritual journey.
 
The faithful celebration of the Eucharist works its own miracle in our
lives. The miracle of conversion is the gradual turning from death to
a life that is deathless.

(Contributed by Fr. Fr. Rick)