Today we are reading from Mark 8: 14-21:

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” 16 They said to one another, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 Then he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

Remember the last few readings have had people talking about a sign?  That was something the people said that they wanted, they wanted to see a sign.  Today, we see Jesus, basically taking a highlighter and pointing to the signs that he had done.  

Besides that actual, you know, miracles.  

How many baskets left over after the first feeding?  Twelve. 

How many baskets were left over after the second feeding?  Seven. 

How many tribes of Israel?  How many disciples?  Twelve. 

How many days of creation?  Seven. 

The first number is a sign for the completeness of God’s call and God’s calling. In the Old Testament, twelve was the number that stood for the people and God’s plan. Same in the New Testament. It was not an accident that there were that many baskets left.  God’s plan and God’s calling is perfect. 

And seven is the perfect number. Creation was perfect, as God desires it.  It is complete and it is perfect. It is not an accident that there were that many baskets left. God’s plan is perfect. 

There were signs all around. Everyone is asking for one. Jesus basically says here, there they are.  Are you looking? Are you seeing?  Are you paying attention?  

Today, if we look, not with our eyes, but with faith, we will see them. There are signs all around us.  We just have to look.  Not with our physical eyes, but with the eyes of faith.  They are there. Through faith, may we have the grace to see God’s signs, all around us. 

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