13 February, 2024 | Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading  Jas 1:12-18

Gospel Mk 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread,

and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

Jesus enjoined them, "Watch out,

guard against the leaven of the Pharisees

and the leaven of Herod."

They concluded among themselves that

it was because they had no bread.

When he became aware of this he said to them,

"Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread?

Do you not yet understand or comprehend?

Are your hearts hardened?

Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?

And do you not remember,

when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand,

how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?"

They answered him, "Twelve."

"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand,

how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?"

They answered him, "Seven."

He said to them, "Do you still not understand?"

Reflections:

In the gospel, we find Jesus speaking symbolically, and his disciples taking Him literally. He warns his disciples to be on their guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod. The disciples think that he is chiding them for not bringing enough bread with them in the boat. In reality, Jesus was using yeast or leaven as a symbol of evil, which was not uncommon in that culture. A little yeast can have a powerful impact on a large batch of dough. In a similar way, the evil of a few can infect many. The disciples need to be on their guard that they are not unduly influenced by the mind-set of the religious experts, the Pharisees, and the political powers, Herod. Yet, the disciples were so concerned that their food may not be sufficient and failed to see that they had the One and Only Bread of Life. They failed to see that they had the One who multiplied bread for four thousands and five thousand. How often we too miss the real message Jesus wants to communicate to us. 

Activity:

Ask Jesus to help you to be honest and see what sort of leaven you sow among your circle of acquanitances and relatives – positive or negative.