Mark 8:14-21

Today the evangelist Mark speaks to us of Jesus' warning to His disciples about the attitudes of the Pharisees and King Herod.

The disciples were worried because, having forgotten to bring bread to eat, they only had one loaf available in the boat.

Then Jesus warned the disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and King Herod. Associating the leaven with the loaf, the disciples thought that Jesus was talking about their worry.

In a way, He was disappointed with the disciples who, because they were thinking only about their immediate need, were not understanding Jesus' warning about the attitudes of the Pharisees and King Herod.

Reminding them of the two episodes of the multiplication of the loaves, when He fed thousands of people and several baskets of fragments were picked up, Jesus reassured the disciples and said that they should guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and King Herod. As we know, leaven, despite its small quantity, has the power to make the dough rise. In the biblical mindset, leaven was seen as corruption, which has the potential to ruin both religious power (the Pharisees) and political power (King Herod). 

On the one hand, the disciples, like Jesus, should be alert to religious and political corruption, so as not to be surprised by the attitudes of the Pharisees and King Herod. On the other hand, the disciples should be alert to corruption in themselves, so as not to lead to the ruin of the Church that is being created. 

And this warning also applies to us. The leaven of corruption and hypocrisy is present in our times. We must resist it at all costs, for the good of the Church and the Kingdom of God in the world. And let us not allow our immediate needs to distract us from the great teachings that Jesus brings us.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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