So let's talk about today's readings 2/16/09

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/readings/021609.shtml

“I have produced a man, with the help of God”
The way I see it, God has produced a child, with the help
of Adam & Eve. No one has ever seen a baby before, yet
somehow Eve knows that this tiny little helpless thing is
a man. Even for those of us who know what will happen already, it’s hard to believe that this newborn baby will be a man.
She believes he will surely become a man, yet earlier when she ate the fruit, she said, “see, I’m not dead”.
How did God look with favor on Abel’s gift, with a look, or words?
And where did the other people come from whom Cain was afraid
would kill him: Adam & Eve’s offspring, or others?

Today’s psalm could be spoken by parents to children, or from
God to Cain.

“No sign will be given to this generation”
How many times do we wish for a sign of God’s presence?
If we open our eyes, it’s a miracle. If they are still closed, it’s still a miracle. There was some kind of story of a fish swimming and asking where is the water?

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here’s today’s Readings with commentary litteralchristianlibrary.wetpaint.com/page/Monday%2C+February+16%2C+2009

I think what strikes me the most is the request for a sign. The Pharisees did not get the sign they asked for because of their motives, but God does give us signs as long as we have a pure heart. The Eucharist is the greatest sign that we probably take for granted because it happens all the time, as well as the other Sacraments. But I have seen enough of God’s miracles to know that He is for real!

 

[cheeto1]

The Eucharist is the greatest sign that we probably take for granted because it happens all the time

You are so right on this one. Thank you for the
commentary, I plan to read it soon.

 

[Strategery]

The interesting part to me is that by this time in Mark there have been several healing miracles, calming the storm, and walking on water, and the feedings of 4K and 5K.

Maybe the Pharisees weren’t present for the healings, but the 4 and 5K were very public events.

The Pharisees HAD signs, but not of the type they were looking for, which were apparently of the part the Red Sea / pillar of fire variety. They wrote the signs off as being outright lies, works of demons, or the works of Satan. Their eyes were blinded, and their hearts were hardened.

The first half of John’s gospel (books 1 through 12) is known as the Book of Signs. John 12 closes with the last teaching that Christ makes publicly, and it addresses the unbelief of the Jews. From here he teaches the Twelve privately in the Upper Room, and then heads to Gethsemane.

John 12:37-50

37 Although he had performed so many signs in their presence they did not believe in him,
38 in order that the word which Isaiah the prophet spoke might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our preaching, to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?”
39 For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said:
40 “He blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not see with their eyes and understand with their heart and be converted, and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.
42 Nevertheless, many, even among the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue.
43 For they preferred human praise to the glory of God.
44 Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me,
45 and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
46 I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
47 And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
48 Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day,
49 because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”

 

[cheeto1]

The Pharisees HAD signs, but not of the type they were looking for, which were apparently of the part the Red Sea / pillar of fire variety. They wrote the signs off as being outright lies, works of demons, or the works of Satan.

Do you really think they would believe, even if He were to part
the Red Sea? I don’t. I’m convinced they would attribute even
that to the works of demons. They are as the ones who killed
the vinyard owner’s own son, even though they knew who he
was, because he was the heir.

 

[Strategery]

Do you really think they would believe, even if He were to part
the Red Sea?

That’s a good question, and I can’t answer it.

We know that over the time of Christ’s appearance, their hearts were hardened to the point they couldn’t believe in him. How far back that goes gets into whether they were predestined to reject. There’s another thread with 200+ posts on that subject.

In my mind there was possibility at some point for all to accept Him, but they made their choices. Certainly guys like Caiphus & his posse were so hardened it wouldn’t have mattered, but there could have been some others that were swayed by old testament stuff.