Do I fail to see what I am supposed to see?

Gospel Thoughts*

*Sixth Week : Tuesday*

*GOSPEL - Mk 8:14-21*

*First Reading - Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10*

*Do I fail to see what I am supposed to see?*

*Jesus says "Do you have eyes, and fail to see?*

*1) The disciples of  failed to see the reality*

The disciples of Jesus failed to see the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. 

In spite of Jesus' warning they are not able to see the various ways of the hypocritical life of the Pharisees

That is why Jesus questions them saying *You have eyes but you fail to see?*

*2) To see hypocrisy one not only needs the eye sight, but needs insight*

The disciples were seeing only from their physical eyesight, which was not powerful to identify the hypocrisy of the Pharisees 

To identify such hypocrisy one needs deep insight, only then one is able to see such things 

The lack of insight may lead to may problems which may be at times very fatal. That's why one needs to development the insight along with eyesight 

*3) To see the yeast of the Pharisees one needs deep insight*

Jesus makes a mention of the yeast of the Pharisees

Yeast works in an hidden and silent way 

Yeast makes the things bigger than the actual reality 

Yeast works from within and gets mixed one with the flour 

So *yeast of the Pharisees* refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. 

Just like yeast which makes the flour to come up (Show off) the Pharisees project themselves as holy and good people, even though they are not 

So one needs to be careful about the yeast of the Pharisees and to see that one needs special insight, which the disciples didn't have 

*4) Disciples saw only the loaves of bread and eating material*

Their whole attention was on the loaves of bread rather than anything else 

That is why when Jesus was speaking some serious things, they were thinking about the bread and scarcity of bread 

So the disciples were over worried about bread and physical hunger 

As long as one concentrates only on bread, he/she will be unable to see the greater realities of life

So insight in needed to see the greater realities of life other than the bread  

*5) Am I able to see the greater realities of the Kingdom of God*

  

The greater realities of the Kingdom of God are the following 

Forgiveness

Unconditional Love

Service

Humility

Washing of the feet 

Generosity

Faithfulness

Purity of thoughts and deeds

The above kingdom values I must see first of in my own life and then in my neighbours life 

If I am able witness these things in my life and in others life then my life will be a successful one 

*6) What do I see today in my life?*

A meaningful life 

A kind of alertness in my life to face all kinds of evil things 

Do I see a kind of watchfulness in my life to defeat the snares of the devil 

Do I see a merciful heart in me to see the misery of my neighbour?

*7) What type of eyes do I have?*

Eyes of love 

Eyes of forgiveness

Eyes of service 

Eyes of humility

Eyes of gratitude

Eyes of healing 

Eyes of generosity

Eyes of faithfulness

Or 

Eyes of revenge, anger, selfishness, hypocrisy, greed, jealousy, etc.

Think About it

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*