"Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord"

The blessing, comfort, and safety found in following God's law .

It highlights that God will not abandon His people and provides rest from evil days. 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

James 1:12-18

Happy are those

Who patiently endure trials, because, afterward, they will receive the crown of life,

which the Lord promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say,

"This temptation comes from God." God is never tempted, and he can never tempt anyone.

Instead, each of us is lured, and enticed, by our own evil desire.

 

Once this desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when fully grown, gives birth to death.

Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light,

in whom there is no change, or shadow of a change. By his own will,

he gave us life, through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him, among his creatures.

 

Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19

Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring more bread, and had only one loaf with them in the boat.

Then Jesus warned them, "Keep your eyes open, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

And they said to one another, "He saw that we have no bread."

Aware of this, Jesus asked them, "Why are you talking about the loaves you are short of?

 

Do you not see or understand? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that don't see and ears that don't hear?

And do you not remember when I broke the five loaves among five thousand?

How many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?" They answered, "Twelve."

"And having distributed seven loaves to the four thousand,

how many wicker baskets of leftovers did you collect?" They answered, "Seven."

Then Jesus said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

 

Gospel Reflection ：

Do you not remember?

"He saw that we have no bread." The disciples' response reflects their preoccupation with immediate needs,

causing them to miss Jesus' warning about the "yeast of the Pharisees and Herod."

This likely frustrated Jesus, as their focus on the material echoed the forgetfulness of Israel,

who overlooked God's saving works. Similarly, we often fear, doubt,

and worry when faced with life's challenges, losing sight of God's provisions.

 

"Do you not remember?" was Jesus' antidote to the crippling forgetfulness of the disciples.

Jesus helped them remember the miracle and grace that he had done.

Today, Jesus saves us from the pit of preoccupation and forgetfulness

as he continually offers himself at the Holy Eucharist saying, "Do this in remembrance of me."

Let us always fix our attention on Jesus whenever trials come our way.

As the Psalmist rightly says, "Blessed the man you instruct, O Lord."