Understanding what we read/hear

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:31-32

These verses are usually used to demonstrate Peter's penchant for opening mouth, inserting foot, but as I read this today, I had a different view. Here are the disciples walking along, listening to Jesus prattle on about this that and the other and maybe not paying that much attention. We know from other places in scripture that they quite often have to ask Jesus "What did you mean by that?" So here is something new that Jesus is saying to them and Peter seems to be the only one who understands what he is saying. I think if the other disciples were really listening, they would have protested also.

I had a parishioner tell me last night that she often didn't understand what the Bible was saying and had a hard time reading it. She's not the first person to tell me that. Sometimes the things of God don't necessarily make sense to us. That's why in the book of Acts the official from Ethiopia told Philip "How can I understand unless someone explains it?" We don't always understand, and so we just sort of brush over it and pretend. But Peter didn't. He understood what he heard and reacted like most humans would react, by protesting. It's in the understanding, and yes, even in the protesting, that we are able to receive clarification and move forward in our understanding.

Today may you understand and receive clarification in what you read and not be afraid to ask when you don't understand.