They had no bread
Published Feb 14, 2023 12:05 am
REFLECTIONS TODAY
The discussion shifts from the Pharisees to the disciples of Jesus who are very close to the agenda of the Pharisees who have argued with and tested Jesus. The disciples now worry over their lack of bread, forgetting that Jesus had multiplied bread and fed the multitude on two occasions. Jesus tells them to beware of the “leaven of the Pharisees” and the “leaven of Herod” (v 15) — referring to the unbelief and hardness of heart of the Pharisees and Herod. Instead of worrying about their lack of bread or provision, the disciples are rather to watch out for the “leaven” of the Pharisees and of Herod that puffs up and corrupts. This is the “old leaven” which according to Paul must be thrown away: “Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened” (1 Cor 5:7). This is the old yeast of malice and wickedness that should be replaced with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8).
Gospel • Mark 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?”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
The discussion shifts from the Pharisees to the disciples of Jesus who are very close to the agenda of the Pharisees who have argued with and tested Jesus. The disciples now worry over their lack of bread, forgetting that Jesus had multiplied bread and fed the multitude on two occasions. Jesus tells them to beware of the “leaven of the Pharisees” and the “leaven of Herod” (v 15) — referring to the unbelief and hardness of heart of the Pharisees and Herod. Instead of worrying about their lack of bread or provision, the disciples are rather to watch out for the “leaven” of the Pharisees and of Herod that puffs up and corrupts. This is the “old leaven” which according to Paul must be thrown away: “Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened” (1 Cor 5:7). This is the old yeast of malice and wickedness that should be replaced with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8).
Gospel • Mark 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?”
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.