Mark 8:20
"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?" They answered [him], "Seven."
I love riddles and puzzles of all kinds. I will sit and do a jigsaw for hours, read and re-read clues in a logic puzzle until I'm cross-eyed (which usually happens) and I really want to do one of those escape room things. Since I know the way Jesus' story goes, I want to think that I would be more perceptive than his disciples, but chances are I would've missed the signs and lessons Jesus was teaching just like they did.
In today's gospel, Jesus takes the opportunity to remind his disciples to avoid evil thoughts and actions. They thought Jesus was reprimanding them for not having enough bread for their journey. He got frustrated, wondering why they didn't get it and if their hearts were hardened. Then He gave these two examples to bring their minds back, not just to the miracles they had witnessed, but to the promise of something greater. He asked how many baskets of bread fragments they had picked up when he fed the five thousand. Twelve. Then how many baskets from the feeding of four thousand? Seven. These two numbers, twelve and seven were significant numbers, and if the disciples were paying attention and open to a lesson, they would've understood that Jesus was telling them that the bread He provides is nourishment beyond this world.
Do you sometimes feel like God is speaking to you in riddles and if He would just lay it out plain and simple you'd have an ah-ha moment and be all-in? God wants to share Himself with us, but knows that we can only handle so much at once. So look for the riddles and spend time listening to His voice. You might find that there are clues all around, just waiting to help you solve the next puzzle and find true nourishment and life.
