Psalm of Praise: Psalms 126:4-6
Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.
Bible Reading: Mark 8:17-21
Jesus asked the disciples: "Why are you talking about having no bread?
Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?
And don't you remember?
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,
how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
"Twelve," they replied.
"And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,
how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?"
They answered, "Seven."
He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"
A Reflection
Following the death of Helen’s brother, we have been looking through his collection of photos – and he took a lot! Graham was a railway enthusiast, so many of them are of trains which we know nothing about, but amongst them are some family photos of events that we were at but taken from his perspective. They bring back memories of good times, some of which we don’t have photos of ourselves and may have forgotten about. One or other of us might say, ‘Don’t you remember?’
I think that is the case with some of the gospel writings. The different authors record things from their perspective and include different events in their records, some of which are unique to them. But they all tell us something about the person who took them and the things that they thought were important.
When it comes to Jesus’ miracles of feeding the multitudes, Luke and John tell us about Jesus feeding the five thousand, but Matthew and Mark record Jesus feeding the five thousand and the four thousand. And yet, not long after witnessing these two miracles the disciples are talking about the fact that they have no bread. Hearing this, Jesus says to them, ‘Don’t you remember?’
As time goes on in our Christian journey it is easy to forget what God has done in our lives in the past and to lose track of the times we felt close to him. I wonder what God has done in your life in the past. How are those times influencing your life now?
Jesus then says to his disciples, ‘Do you still not understand?’ They have seen him feed five thousand, they have seen him feed four thousand, do they not understand; he will always provide for their needs?
What are your needs at the moment? Do you understand, the same God is also your provider?
A Prayer
Faithful God, when I doubt your provision for me, remind me of your love and of your faithfulness.
Amen
Yesterday, today and forever.