Thoughts for the Day

The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod

Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We moved to Gloucester and one day I received an unexpected phone call just as I was going to eat. "This is Miss Stone," a cultured voice announced, "from Colwell School for Gels" (Girls!). I urgently need a history teacher. Can you do it?" Now I was hungry and my dinner was getting cold, so I quickly answered, "Sorry, I'm an English Teacher!" and went to put the phone down when she added, "Well I'm a Maths teacher, and if you don't do it, I will have to!" I sighed, stopped thinking about my hunger, and listened to her proposition.

As we have seen Jesus and the disciples have been walking vast tracts of territory from Sidon way up north in Syrian territory to the Decapolis off the south-east bank of the Sea of Galilee, where he heals a deaf and dumb mute, feeds four thousand plus, gentiles, and is asked by the Pharisees to prove who he is. Finally they leave the area by boat. Now occurs a bizarre conversation between Jesus and his disciples about leaven (not yeast, but probably leaven where a small piece of yesterday's leaven is added to the new mix to make it rise and produce 'sour dough'). But the disciples are tired and hungry and so completely misunderstand him. Jesus is trying to teach them to beware of the Pharisees and of Herod. Leaven was considered to be an illustration of the work of sin - a small amount of sin can corrupt the whole group or person! The excessive pride of the Pharisees in following the Law is sinful and their influence is becoming evil. While Herod's desire to gain more power was never ending. So even when Jesus reminds the disciples he has fed thousands (and so can feed them) the disciples are still worrying about their lack of bread and not seeing the connection.

The questions for us are - do we allow small things to distract us from our work in the Kingdom, and do our small sins, like leaven, grow and get out of hand? My eighteen months teaching at Colwall was to later underpin my seven years as a Diocesan Children and RE Adviser! as well as the rest of my ministry, so it was a goo thing I didn't give into my stomach!

Heavenly Father,
take our minds from the everyday
and fix them on You,
so that we can build up food in heaven
rather than food on earth!
May we learn to apply
the messages in the scriptures
to our current life,
and continue to grow spiritually,
Amen.