“Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15)

“Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15) 

Today’s Passages: Mk 8:14-21; Gen 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10

Meditation: The tempo of the joy and wonder of the colorful creation narrative of the book of Genesis has gone into several grey shades forever. What we see from the third chapter on is the fall of man and its fast continuation through the generations. It began with the disobedience of the first parents, Adam and Eve, continued through Cain and his sons, and now the situation is in its worst height. The creator now has become helpless and restless

It is written, “When the Lord saw that human wickedness had increased on the earth and that the thought of his heart shaped nothing but evil the whole day, the Lord regretted having created man on the earth and his heart grieved.” (Gen 6:5-6)  Here the author does fail to use the word anger or revenge and uses “grief” for he knows well that grief comes from the love and compassion of the heart. God cannot but love his creation and man as its crown.

Then the question arises as to, why he made up his mind to destroy the world with the flood. The answer for this question we get from God himself. Though he had to take that decision with so much pain against man, he was looking for a reason till the last moment not to destroy his creation and save him. The author of the Genesis cleverly puts it, “But Noah found favor with God.” (Gen 6:8) Against the entire immoral humanity one man’s righteousness stands as summon for salvation! Yes, he cannot but love!

Finally, as he couldn't find anyone in the place of Noah, he sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ against the sins of humanity. John says, “Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that, through him the world might be saved.” (Jn 3:16-17) His salvific work is being continued even today.

The warning we find in today’s mediation verse is indeed his grief over our lazy and careless Christian life: “Keep your eyes open and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” (Mk 8:15) Why is this frequent warning needed in our life? It is certainly in view of our salvation.

For, “it is impossible for people who have once been enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly gift and received the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the beauty of the word of God and the powers of the supernatural world, and in spite of all these if they cease to believe and fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because they are again crucifying the Son of God and holding him up to mockery.” (Heb 6:4-6) 

               

Prayer: Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. God, give us the grace to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and discern what is good and evil. Let us not be cheated by the false teachings of the teachers. We ask for this grace through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Greetings: God is with you! Wish you a blissful Tuesday!