Daily Mass Gospel Reflection- Demanding Grace

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 2/14/2022 | Aux. Bishop R. Barron

[MurphsLaw]

Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

Mark 8:11-13

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees demand Jesus give them a sign in order to prove his authority, perhaps a miracle. But I’d like to draw your attention to the final line in the passage: "He left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore."

Whose boat was this? Well, the previous verses confirm it belonged to his disciples. Jesus entering the boat calls to mind his first encounter with Peter. One day, Peter was going about his ordinary business, washing his nets and preparing for a catch. Then without warning, without asking permission, Jesus got into his boat.
Now the boat was everything for Peter; it was his livelihood, his security. But Jesus just got in and began giving orders.

So it goes in the order of grace. The true God cannot be manipulated, determined by us, or controlled through our efforts.
We can’t act like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, demanding that God behave for us. Rather, he comes into our lives—often unbidden and unexpected—and determines us, controls us. His presence is pure grace.

Don’t demand signs from God. Instead, do what the disciples did and let him enter your boat.

[MurphsLaw]

+++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.+++