Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, Bishop
In the gospel reading for today Jesus talks of the leaven of the Pharisees, referring to their teachings and their influence. Leaven is an interesting metaphor, because it invokes the idea of something that works through the dough and causes it to rise. Yeast multiplies quickly to produce a significant change. A little bit goes a long way, and in the process the dough changes from what it was before.
At first the disciples misunderstand Jesus’ warning about the “leaven” of the Pharisees, thinking that he is saying something about the disciples’ lack of food. Jesus tells them not to think just of the literal meaning of his words, but of the deeper spiritual significance of those words. He reminds the disciples that he is concerned in his ministry not only with people’s lack of bread but with their spiritual needs as well.
To reinforce the differences between what he is doing in his ministry and the teachings of the Pharisees, Jesus refers to the miracles where he has multiplied loaves of bread and fed many people. By referring to the number seven, which in the Bible tends to represent completion or perfection, and the number twelve, which is associated with the God’s action in human history, Jesus makes it clear that he is doing more than feeding people physically. His gift to human beings goes beyond mere bread; he offers them the gift of eternal life, a life in service to God and neighbor. Jesus makes his disciples aware that he has not just fed them physically but also spiritually. His teaching is life giving and comes from God, while the teachings of the Pharisees are stifling and oppressive.
Reflecting on Jesus’ words, I am reminded of the need to look beyond superficial things to consider deeper spiritual realities. Yet I do not want to suggest that this is easy. I realize that as human beings we must provide for ourselves and work to meet our physical needs. Often we have no choice but to spend most of our time and effort securing food, clothing, and shelter. But there are also times when we spend too much time and effort on things that aren’t really important. It seems to me that Jesus is leading us today to seek deeper meaning and spiritual understanding in our lives. And it is this to which each of us is called as a disciple of Jesus. I am also reminded of the importance of living out my faith on a daily basis in order to allow it to grow, and to seek to follow Jesus’ teachings in a more significant and deeper way during the upcoming season of Lent. Let us pray today for the wisdom to know what is truly important and what is not and the courage to begin the Lenten journey in the hope that we will be drawn closer to our Lord.
- Joel Schickel