Mark 7: 31-37 (Daily Bread of 14/11/2017)

EPHRATA

Key Verse 7: 34
Jesus healed a deaf and dumb man. This man had this illness due to his démon possession. However, no one could deliver him from his condition. How did Jesus deliver him? We can observe this by his open-minded spirit. We, the French, need to learn this spirit in order to overcome our closed or hindered spirit.

1. A deaf man who also had difficulty speaking (31-33)

Man has the faculty to express his thoughts and to hear those of the others in order to reconcile with them. However, this man could do nothing given his disability. He was unable to hear and to speak anything. He had certain difficulties to speak. Stammering or any other disability is due to possession by an evil spirit. However, Jesus wanted to heal him.

2. Ephrata (34-37)

Jesus carried him away from the crowd for an unknown reason. This man was unable to hear anything so the crowd did not hamper him. However, Jesus had a one-on-one with him in order to heal him. Jesus’ goal was not to become famous but he was really affected by this man’s pain and so he carried him to the best place. His healing method is unique as he put his fingers in this man’s ears and he spat on his tongue. It’s not very hygienic but that does not matter as Jesus did it this way for one reason. He wanted this man to count on him alone. This was a sort of exorcism. The sick man therefore had to be humble enough to support this somewhat humiliating treatment and when he did he was healed. Jesus sighed because of his child’s suffering and then he said “Ephrata” which means “open up”. Everything in this man was closed due to the evil power that was residing behind him. However, when Jesus’ finger touched his ears and his tongue, they both opened up and he became a normal man thanks to Jesu’ healing power. He could then on understand the others and freely express his thoughts. He became a man who was totally free and able to communicate with all without any hindrance. May God be praised for giving us the faculty to listen and talk.

A protestant saying to catholics

FOREWORD AT ADDRESS CATHOLIC READER

This book is addressed primarily to all Catholics who wish to learn from the Protestant faith, especially in its "evangelical" version. Many reductive clichés circulate on the evangelicals, which have what to fear: Fundamentalists taking the Bible literally, illuminated demonizing the Catholic Church and refusing any form of oeucumenism being the work of Satan, etc. To answer these accusations, which testify more to ignorance and ignorance, this book means showing that "evangelical theology" is, on the contrary, extremely solid and argumentative, rooted in an interpretation of the Saint Scriptures, which has been shared on some points by the greatest theologians (from St. Augustine to Pascal, via Luther and Calvin), that it wants fully faithful to Scripture, while being aware of the plurality of interpretations opened by it. In a word, far from contempt sometimes postered by some Catholics often too sure of their beliefs and their own tradition, it is appropriate to take the movement very seriously in the coming years, such as the
main "living force" of Christianity, through zeal and conviction which its members show.

In a more personal way, I must admit that the writing of this book was, for me, accompanied by a real "existential crisis" that took me seen, on several occasions, swinging between Catholicism and Protestantism, this including my former colleagues from Sainte-Marie de Lyon who followed my spirituality, have been witnesses. Make the choice to give up a confession in which we always believed, that we always defended when it was attacked (all my former students can confirm ...) is a path difficult and painful. If I have written this book, it is first of all to explain it to all those who know me, and who may have difficulties to follow the meanders of my intellectual and spiritual journey. They will discover in this book, I hope, that my adherence to evangelical faith relies on the reasons of which we must be careful not to take lightly, because they are the fruit of a theological deepening to which all men who research sinserely the truth can't escape.

Mark 8 11-21 (Daily Bread of 16/11/2017)

JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A GOOD MEMORY.

Key verse 8:17

For man having a good memory is very important as without one he may become an ephemeral creature whose life has no meaning. Jesus felt that his disciples needed to learn this truth and so he taught them it.

1) Stay clear from the Pharisees’ influence.

The Pharisees came to Jesus seeking more miracles but they had already seen quite a number of them. However, they wanted to see more because in their hearts they did not want to believe in him. This demand stemmed from their disbelief and from the hardening of their hearts. Jesus sighed deeply because of them. Jesus warned his disciples to be wary to not become like the Pharisees who were hypocrite. Inspite of their religious appearance, deep down they had no faith. The Pharisees led the people in the wrong direction given their legalistic hearts. On the other hand thete was Herod’s influence which was purely carnal. The people had to beware of their sins in order to avoid becoming infected. Nowadays these influences are still present thus the need to listen to God’s Word and live according to it.

2. Are ye still without understanding ? (16-21)

The disciples felt guilty because they had forgotten to bring the bread. After having being filled by the bread multiplied to feed 4000 men, the disciples were so happy that they forgot to bring the 7 baskets filled with bread. They therefore felt guilty. Jesus' comment on the Pharisees and Herod touched their hearts like an injection. They therefore began murmuring in their hearts. Jesus knew what was going on in their hearts and thus he reminded them of the episodes that went along with this miracle. They needed to remember that Jesus fed an entire crowd thanks to his power. Therefore, their future without bread was without stress as long as Jesus was with them. However, in their hearts they were still worried about bread.Should they have put their trust in him, they would be without worries and their heart would be open to receive Jesus' teaching. They would have also been able to understand it. They were actually spiritually blind and deaf inspite of their appearance. We need to have a good memory of Jesus’ work, his love and his power in order to not be called hypocrites.  

Marc 7:24-30 (Daily bread of 13/11/17)

Key verse: 29

FOR THIS SAYING, GO YOUR WAY

Jesus appreciates the faith of a Gentile woman and heals this sick woman. What is the faith of this woman ?

1. She threw herself at his feet (24-26)

Jesus came to the country of Tyr. It was a Pagan city. It was perhaps because of the zeal of opposition of the religious leaders against Jesus' work. Jesus came to have a rest. But because of his renown he could'nt remain alone. The people came to him and among them there was a Syro-Phoenician woman whose the daughter was possessed by a demon. Her request was very humble, because she threw herself at his feet. Her desire was very ardent to pray because her only daughter was sick and demonic.

2. For this saying (27-30)

Normally, Jesus should be moved with compassion and listen to the request of this woman, even if she was a Pagan woman, because Jesus healed the Pagans for example the servant of the Centurion. But Jesus works a different way with this woman. His word was very humiliating because he considered her as a bitch. But Jesus considered her as a female dog. Jesus revealed that the main purpose of his coming was to the Israelites. But Jesus had another intention which was to want to test the faith of this woman. She was already very humiliated by the disease of her daughter. But her strong ego was still in her. It's very difficult for a person to humiliate oneself in spite of an urgent need. But this woman was humble. But when Jesus considered her as a female dog deprived of salvation she could be offended and gave bitterness in her heart. But she replicated that the bitch may receive crumbs under the table. Jesus wasn't kind with her. But in this proof Jesus saw what was her heart. Jesus is all-knowing, he knew her heart. But often God taxes us to see our heart and our motivation. If we are humble to succeed this test, God will bless us even more. Jesus healed her daughter. Jesus also healed the disease of the mother which was the problem of pride. Without this test, she would have been ungrateful after this miracle, forgetting the grace that Jesus gave to her. But this test purifies her soul and she truly appreciated the healing of her daughter and truly thanked Jesus.

Mark 7: 1-23 (Daily Bread of 11/11/2017)

YOU PHARISEES ARE HYPOCRITES.

Key verse 7: 6

Jesus highlights the importance of the heart that is obedient towards God’s commandements. However, by this Word we get to see how much the leaders’ hearts were far from God because of their formal way of serving Him.

You are just being holding on to your tradition (1-13)

The religious leaders came to Jesus to accuse him. At that very moment they saw the disciples chunk down some food. The problem was that they were happily eating without having washed their hands. This was against their tradition. The leaders thus began criticising them by calling them impure. Jesus called them hypocrites. Hypocrites are those who mask their true identity with a façade. They smiled but inside there were full of rapines. They thought, or at least hoped to, make themselves look decent through their vain formalities. However, in reality this façade did not help them to ameliorate their spiritual condition as they where deeply corrupt. Jesus lamented because of their formalist spiritualisme that was uncorrectable. God is not interested in our facial or outward appearance but the motivation of a man’s heart before Him is what counts. The religious leaders used their traditional law of the qorban to avertir obeying the Word which spoke about honouring one’s parents. Therefore our multiple traditions annuls God’s Word.
2. The parable about food (14-23)

Jesus that the only thing that renders man impure is that which comes out of him not that which goes in like food. That which enters through our mouths is evacuated whereas that which comes from our hearts is not. Therefore if our hearts are impure so are our mouths and vice versa. When de speak bas words our hearts become impure, that’s the reality. The religious leaders wanted to camouflage their evil hearts by their outward appearance and by their sophisticated tradition. However they were evil and because of their silly religious ways their hearts were far from God. They were thus disobedient to God. Isaiah spoke about this (6b-7). Jesus said to eat of his flesh and drink of his blood. The meaning of this is not transubstantiate but rather it's a call on individual repentance.

Mark 6:45-56 (daily bread of 10/11/17)

Key verse: 50b

IT'S I, DON'T BE AFRAID 

Previously, Jesus trained his disciples to learn the heart of shepherd. Now Jesus is training them to learn courage. Courage is very important for mankind and it's very important to God's work as we see in Acts. 

1. Jesus walked on the water (45-52)

Jesus forced his discples to go up along the opposite shore without him. During the navigation a storm hit the sea and their boat was endangered and was on the edge of sinking. They already had an experience like this but they always were afraid. They always have this inherent problem of fear. Meanwile, Jesus went up into the mountain to pray as he usually did. So he seek God's will to the next step. Jesus came in the middle of the night to walking on the water and wanted to exceed them, that means he went near them. Seeing Jesus, them had to recognize and welcome him, but they squealed because they thought that he was a ghost. But Jesus said to them: "It's I, don't be afraid". Who is Jesus ? He is God the Creator, who controls the gravitational force. They didn't see that. The devil always inspired fear. So the human loses discernment and vision. Fear and disbelief (Marc comments that it was because they didn't understand the miracle of the 5 breads and two fishes) make us be dazzled to not see God Almighty.

2. The healing power of Jesus (53-56)

When Jesus landed many people recognized him and come to him to be healed. They gathered many sick person of the region to make them come to Jesus and be healed. The sick person only wanted touch the edge of the Jesus"cloak because they heard that Jesus' power was very great. Maybe they heard how a woman having an issue of blood twelve years ago was healed through a simple contact with the edge of Jesus' cloack. So all those who touched the edge of his cloack benefited from the healing power of Jesus. They had faith in Jesus like the woman. If we have faith, disease leaves us and the good health comes. 

Mark 6 : 30-44 (Daily bread of 9/11/2017)

FEED THEM YOURSELVES

Key verse 6: 37

In this episode Jesus gives us a closer look on his shepherd’s heart and on his desire to train his disciples. Above all, he manifested his power to create things.

They were like sheep without a shepherd (30-34).

The apostles had just come back from their mission and they joyously told Jesus all that happened. Jesus knew that they needed to rest a bit so he suggested that they cross the sea and spend a bit of time alone. However, the crowd knew where they were and they followed them. They were awaiting them on the other side of the sea. Jesus saw them and was very moved. Jesus was always moved by compassion for those who had no shepherd. He always shared the suffering that others underwent. Their first need was the Word and so he taught them for a long period of time. Only the Word could truly heal their souls.

2. Feed them yourselves.

It was very late and the people in the crowd started to suffer from stomach aches. The disciples had to find a solution and they thus began questionning each other. However, the real answer was Jesus so they brought the problem to him. Jesus told them “Feed them yourselves”. This rang in their ears like thunder that fell from the sky. Feed them with what? What an impossible request. However, by this call Jesus wanted to make them the shepherd of these souls. A shepherd who has does not have a shepherd's heart has nothing and is nothing. Should a man be poor but have a shepherd's heart, he is the richest man. We need to strive to get this heart regardless our situation. In our society where all is dark and the sheep suffer as they have no shepherds, there has been no greater need for real shepherds. Jesus wanted to train his disciples into becoming shepherds who would take care of these suffering souls. Jesus blessed the disciples small contribution of 5 loaves and two fish. He multiplied them and was thus able to feed 5000 men. A shepherd's heart has such a power to multiply things. It gives rise to an over abundant blessing like the 12 baskets with held the remaining loaves and fish.

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