These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
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?" (Mk 8:14-21)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021324.cfm
As disciples we are always a bit slow to catch on. Perhaps it’s important to REMEMBER—to remember all the graces we have received from the Lord. Today in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama, it is Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday). Mardi Gras is a wonderful reminder that tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. (Mk 8:11-13)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021224.cfm
Everyone seems to demand a sign so they can have proof of who Jesus is. The Lord doesn’t have much patience for that kind of nonsense. He gets back in the boat and leaves. His words and deeds are proof enough.
Brothers and sisters, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor 10:31-11:1)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm
As we prepare to enter Lent this week, Saint Paul reminds us to do “do everything for the glory of God.” The Imitation of Christ is a key element of Christian Spirituality. As we seek to follow Christ by living as He lived, by loving as He loved, by caring for the poor, the suffering, the hungry and the sick, let us touch the world with our hands and our heart so that Christ may truly live in us, we in Him.
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” (Mk 8:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021024.cfm
The Feeding of the 4,000 is another of the feeding passages which points us to the Eucharist. The gospel tells us that “they ate and were satisfied and then they picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.” The passages of the Loaves and Fishes remind us, the doubting disciples of today, that the Bread of Life satisfies the deepest hungers of the human heart. Saint Scholastica is the twin sister of Saint Benedict. She is considered the founder of organized religious life for women. Today's picture of the Feeding of the 4,000 is by African artist, Bénédicte de La Roncière.
He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to,the more they proclaimed it.They were exceedingly astonished and they said, "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." (Mk 7:31-37)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020924.cfm
The Messianic Secret is an interesting part of the Gospel According to Mark. Perhaps, the gospel writer wants us to know that it is not through the healings nor any of the other miraculous signs that we know who Jesus truly is. Rather, after Jesus dies on the Cross, it is the pagan centurion who sees the manner of his death and makes the startling confession: “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
