The Leaven of the Pharisees
February 18, 2025 - Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 8:14-21
Although already in the boat with His disciples, Jesus’ thoughts were still on the Pharisees. He warns His disciples not to become like them or like the supporters of Herod. "Leaven" has the power to transform an entire batch of dough. In spiritual matters, it can work for good or evil. A Christian community should be a leaven in the world, transforming it from within. On the other hand, the influence of one sinner can corrupt an entire community.
What did Jesus mean by the leaven of the Pharisees and Herod? The leaven of the Pharisees refers to their stubborn refusal to recognize God’s revelation of love and mercy in Jesus Christ, a revelation meant for all. The leaven of Herod represents a craving for power and authority. Herod Antipas did everything he could to obtain the title King of the Jews. Can Christians be affected by such attitudes? Absolutely. We can create communities of the self-righteous that exclude others, and we can crave earthly power as Herod did. Our hearts can become hardened, and despite having eyes and ears, we may still be blind and deaf to God’s plans for our lives.
The disciples remembered well how many baskets they picked up after the two miracles of multiplication. Their struggle was in applying these lessons to their lives. How could they worry about lacking bread when the one who had provided for so many was with them? And yet, how often do we worry about trivial matters despite our faith in Christ? Still, our worries are not the main point of this Gospel passage.
The Gospel ends with Jesus’ question: “Do you still not understand?” What were they in danger of failing to grasp? Jesus’ mission. Christ came to unite humanity, breaking down the walls that separate us. The Pharisees and Herod’s supporters were both nationalistic. The Pharisees believed that God’s concern was only for the Jews, particularly the righteous ones like themselves. The Herodians, on the other hand, hoped that God would choose a ruler from Herod’s family. But Jesus had a different vision. The twelve and seven baskets collected after the miraculous feedings symbolized His unifying mission—Jews and Gentiles joined in one community, the Church. This was the message the disciples needed to embrace in order to proclaim the Gospel after Easter. And it remains a message we must keep at the center of our faith today.