Having taught senior pupils for many years I remember the first time I stood in front of a primary class.They listened attentively while i explained in great detail what I thought was a fairly basic economic principle and   then when ia sked them to  write a bit in their jotters about it hands shot up. Rather smugly pleased with their apparent interest in what I had been saying I was brought back to earth as they asked  whether they could write in pen or pencil, did they have to leave a margin, and how many lines should they come down from the top. In fact I had been teaching way above their heads and they did not have a clue. It was a good lesson for me.

 

I wonder if Jesus felt the same when he had been sitting with the disciples, having fed the five thousand and discovered they were more interested in the bread and where they would eat next than the point of the miracle. They had eyes but did not see and ears but did not hear. How much is this true of us? For all the miracles in our lives for all the teaching and reading , for all the times God reaches out to us, are we still  worrying about whether to leave a margin?

 

"Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?"

Mark 8 vs 17-18