Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(James 1:12-18; Mark 8:14-21)
Two little girls who had just made their First Communion
were talking to one another. One asked
the other what gifts she received on the day of glory. The second, more attuned to what “Communion” means
responded, “wasn’t Jesus enough?”
Jesus’ disciples in today’s gospel suffer from the same
myopia as the girl who thinks about First Communion as an opportunity to
receive presents. They worry that they
have no bread when they have in their midst the “Bread of Life.” If they but
open their hearts to Jesus, they would no longer need to worry about anything.
Jesus warns his followers to beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees. This leaven – pride and
hardness of heart – can puff up one’s face so that the eyes do not see what is
manifest. We must take notice. Lent is upon us. It is the choice time to knock down our pride
with confession of sins and to help the poor with their needs.
