our capacity for self-deception
"Do you still not understand?" —Mark 8:21
Jesus multiplied five loaves to feed five thousand men and several thousand women and children. He repeated this miracle on another occasion using seven loaves. Both times there were more leftovers than the food Jesus started with (Mk 8:19-20). After these two amazing miracles, the Pharisees blindly asked Jesus for a sign (Mk 8:11). Jesus sighed "from the depths of His spirit" (Mk 8:12). Jesus' disciples were also blind to reality. Jesus questioned them: "Do you still not see or comprehend? Are your minds completely blinded? Have you eyes but no sight? Ears but no hearing?" (Mk 8:17-18)
The obtuseness (see Mk 7:22) and self-deception of the human person is alarming. We can see a miracle right before our eyes and yet miss it completely. We can kill millions of babies in the womb and just pretend, contrary to all biological and scientific data, that they are not really human beings. We can bomb our enemies and say we are really loving them because we are fighting a "just war." We can stare at pornographic garbage on prime-time TV and call it entertainment. The human capacity for self-deception is terrifying.
We would deceive ourselves all the way to hell but for the grace and light of Jesus. We need Jesus desperately. He alone is the Truth (Jn 14:6).
Prayer: Father, may the Holy Spirit I received at Pentecost open my eyes and lead me to change my life.
Promise: "Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above." —Jas 1:17
Praise: While making a pilgrimage to Fatima as a young man, Fr. Rick discerned and accepted his calling to be a priest.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Living In Reality, or our tapes, either a four-part audio series starting with AV 38-1 or a two-part video series starting with V-38.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 23, 2007
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