God extends the ten commandments, not so much adding to them but explaining how wide reaching they are, and with each decree, he reminds Moses:
“I am the Lord your God”.
He also reminds the people of Israel, His chosen people that they must be kind and hospitable to foreigners, a sign that whilst Israel is singled out as a holy people, God’s word and His bountiful harvest is for all to share.
God also requires harsh discipline for those who ignore the laws, first to wipe out sin and secondly to serve as a warning to the rest of the nation of the consequences of sin.
Meanwhile, the Pharisees are testing Jesus and demanding another miracle from Him. Jesus and His disciples leave the area but the disciples fret that they have no food to take with them. Jesus appears to be agitated, He knows time is short yet the disciples seem to have forgotten everything He has taught them – the miracles of the feeding of the two great crowds with what started as meagre rations are a distant memory! Jesus askes His disciples in desperation, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Then he takes a blind man to one side and after laying hands on him the man could see but not clearly. The Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes again and this time his sight was completely restored.
Next Jesus posed this question to His disciples, “Who do people say that I am.” The disciples responded with a list of prophets so He asked the disciples directly, “But who do you say that I am?” It is Peter who responded, “You are the Messiah.”
At last, one of them has sight, though their vision is not yet completely clear as He is not a Messiah who will conquer their political invaders and as Jesus foretells of His forthcoming trials, Peter is still only partially sighted. He will not fully come to see until the dawning of the first Easter.
Scripture: Leviticus 19:1-20:21; Mark 8:11-38; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 10:17
Contemplative Catholic 