Today is Tuesday the 16 February, in the 6^th week of Ordinary Time.

One Hope Project sings ‘My Soul Rests’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 8:14-21

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?’

“The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread”. Was that the only mistake that they made in that episode?

“Why are you talking about having no bread?” Have you ever noticed yourself asking the wrong question?

Now listen to the passage being read again, and see what kind of an answer you might give to Jesus’ final question, “do you not yet understand?”. Has your answer to it changed during this time of prayer?

Jesus asks, “are your hearts hardened?” Take a moment to reflect on the state of your own heart in these final moment. Talk to God about whatever comes up for you…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.