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?”
Lectio (Reading)
Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.Meditatio (Reflecting)
Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.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?
Oratio (Responding)
Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.Why is Jesus rebuking His disciples here…? It almost seems as if Jesus is exasperated with them. The passage begins by telling us that they left the fragments of the miracle of the feeding of the 4000 on the shore. It appears that they are overly focused on the miracle, and the “leftover” signs of that miracle, and not on Jesus, the one who litterally made the miracle happen, who is with them in the boat. They are looking for the signs and not the sign maker.
Jesus here is simply reminding them that that bread He gave will feed for a day, but Jesus is the bread of life that feeds for eternity. This interchange between the disciples and Jesus is almost funny because the disciples are saying we forgot the bread, and Jesus is say saying, no you didn’t I’m right here.
So why did He say to beware of the leaven of the pharisees? and of herod? Well the leaven of the pharisees are their own teachings. The myriad laws that they created and added on to Gods law, and put themselves in the charge of. These teachings are the laws of this world and not of God. The leaven of Herod was greed and debauchery and treachery. Also things of this world, and mortally dangerous for anyone who seeks the kingdom of God.
Jesus is reminding them, and all of us, to stop thinking about the pharisees and herod, and of the things of this world and to start thinking of Jesus and the kingdom of Heaven in the next. It is all the same message, and it is funny because the disciples have their head fixated on the needs and signs of this world, and Jesus is reminding them instead to focus on the here and now, and to be present in this moment with the Lord.
Contemplatio (Contemplating)
Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.Resolutio (Resolving)
Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.Oh lord, help me today to focus on you and what you need from me. Amen.