Yeast of Herod

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns the disciples: “Look out for the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod”.  Mark 8:15.

I have never baked with yeast.  To me, it is such a complicated process.  You start with a little package of yeast, add it and the other ingredients to the flour, cover it, and lo and behold, it starts to rise, and rise, and rise.

In the same way, as the yeast influences the flour, we are being influenced by the culture of the world.  Everywhere we turn, we see evil lurking.  With present day technology, we are present at all the ‘events’ of the world.  We see and hear gory details of murder, rape, sexual encounters, etc. on television, in the newspapers, and on the internet.  What has become so disturbing is that much of this is being broadcasted during prime time news and hours when our children are watching.

In addition, as the yeast ‘grows’, so does the gossip.  You tell one person a ‘short story’ about someone else, and this story starts circulating, until it becomes a novel.  As one blogger puts it:  “Is it true, kind, and necessary?”

The Yeast, that we should be allowing to take over our hearts, minds, and souls, is the Body of Christ.  When we receive communion, His flesh and blood becomes ours!  Have you stopped and thought about that?

So many of us receive the bread and wine on a daily basis, yet we do not fully comprehend the great Mystery that is occurring in our bodies.

"By Holy Communion, we are changed into the flesh of Him became our flesh."

--St. Leo the Great

Come, Holy Spirit, come.  Make us pure in spirit so that the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ will permeate in our beings so that when people see us, they will see Jesus.  Amen