Curiosity Strikes!

Gian Adrian Crisostomo

For a curious mind there is no word but why. And who has this type? They are the scientists, philosophers, theologians and artists. But I say a child growing up. As grown ups we may find ourselves in one or all or not even among the disciplines I mentioned but we have one commonality: we were once children and we had that thirst for knowing. The environment we were exposed to plays a major and essential factor to the development of our inquisitive mind. Either we progress or digress. One thing is important to consider though, there is always limit to what we can know.

Mark, in today’s Gospel presented and greatly emphasized the disciples’ limitation in knowing and understanding. Jesus spoke the words, ‘do you not understand?’ twice. Interestingly, Mark put the words understanding, heart and remembering as key points for a genuine and comprehensive understanding. How the disciples did not understand, still with a hardened hearts, and failed to remember only accentuate their limitedness. Jesus seemingly sounded already fed up.

But here’s the wisdom behind. Mark’s emphasis of the disciples’ limited knowledge and understanding: "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?..."Do you not yet understand?" (Mk 8: 14-21), greatly emphasized how patient and loving Teacher and Master Jesus is.

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When a child asks too many whys and we ran out of answers and explanations, we just stopped, maybe a bit annoyed but never holding a grudge. But when a grown up someone keeps on asking whys, even after your hundred times explanations it could only have two reasons: 1. the person’s ability to understand already reached its limit 2. the person is ABnormal (A for angry, B for bitter or in layman’s term A-hole and B****. excuse me for the words). I see you smiling because you know its true and are surrounded by many.

To deal with it (or them) is to draw out the lesson Jesus taught his disciples, and the lesson Jesus is educating us today: the virtue of Patience. The Greek word μακροθυμία or long suffering entails: a description of a spirit which never gives in and endures in the end, and a spirit which stomachs injury and insult but refuses to take revenge or retaliate. If we can challenge ourselves to possess such ability, then even when we’re at the brink of “Do you not yet understand?", we can still accept, love and stay with that someone. After all, God has been patient and loving with you and me a long time ago, and He still continues to do so.

You ask me why?...Oh, you’re cute and I just love you!!