Commentary on the Gospel of
Art several points in the Gospel of Mark, the disciples clearly misunderstand Jesus’ message. Today’s Gospel is one example of such a misunderstanding. Jesus is trying to warn his disciples about Herod and the Pharisees. Their followers opposed Jesus’ mission and had even begin plotting Jesus’ death.
Jesus calls the Pharisees and Herodians “yeast.: It’s an evocative image, but it may be unfamiliar to those who don’t do much baking. (Yeast leavens baked goods, such as bread, making them rise. A very small amount of yeast can leaven a large amount of bread, pervading the other ingredients. In the same way, hate, distrust, and anger can pervade relationships, destroying them from the inside out. Jesus cautions his disciples to be aware of the effects of such damaging yeast. Instead, we need to keep our eyes, ears, and minds open for opportunities to love those we meet as Jesus loves us. That is the heart of Jesus’ often misunderstood mission.
