THE YEAST

The Lord relented in wiping out all of creation because Noah found favor with the Lord. He always gives us all the chances we could possibly get. Just like in the case of Noah during his time, it is always man who does not respond to God's mercy and grace. It is about time that we act on this truth and not let it just pass us by and find ourselves drowning and lost as in those people who did not follow Noah's example. Amen. Hallelujah!

Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10
So the LORD said: “I will wipe out from the earth the men whom I have created, and not only the men, but also the beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them.” 8 But Noah found favor with the LORD.

No matter how hard we strive to do things right we always sometimes end up failing in one thing or unable to carry out what we intended to do. We always mess things up no matter how efficient and effective we think we may be. Whenever we think that we've got everything under control, something comes up which tells us that the situation is not so. Things do not always happen as perfectly as we wanted it to be. Whenever we are on edge and have to do one thing after another or even have to do several things at a time we sometimes reach a point when we can't take anymore. This is because we are so limited in our capacities and capabilities. In times like these we tend to feel so depressed and exhausted that after so much effort nothing seems to be enough. It is when we should realize that through our imperfections and failings that we come into terms of the truth that we need God. We should find consolation in knowing that God does not have any shortcomings and failures and can always bring about perfectly in His time everything He intended to do. Amen. Hallelujah!



Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.
1 Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, 2 give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire.

The baker breaks up a solid block of yeast and spreads it over the dough, and just a small crumb of yeast causes the bread to rise. Today's gospel speaks of the yeast. It is written, "Be on your guard for the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod." Also in Gal 5:8-10 it is said, "That enticement does not come from the one who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident of you in the Lord that you will not take a different view, and that the one who is troubling you will bear the condemnation, whoever he may be." The secular culture constantly sprinkles its yeast into our lives. It is very sad and frightening but it has taken on a very consistent pattern in the lives of men and women of this world. At first, the reaction is initial shock but later on move to neutrality then to a life of sin. We have seen so many devout Catholics who started out good but then eventually stopped going to mass for fear of being judged as a Christian prude. We all know where these things are headed and sadly enough this leads to a lack of faith. One small thing leads to another until we come to a point where we start living a life of unfaithfulness to the commands of God. As it is written in 1 Cor 5 6-8 Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Let the unleavened bread of the Eucharist be our bread, where our Lord truly present. If life permits it, we should daily go to Holy Communion. We have to toss out the yeast of the world and culture. Although we want to transform the world we still have to be cautious be on guard. We have to let the Eucharist raise us up and lead us to our vocation of holiness. The world tries to lead us away from God. We are all disciples of Christ. Every disciple is responsible in his or her own measure, for the spread of the faith. We’ve all been given a sphere of influence and upon all Christians rest the noble obligation of working to bring all peoples throughout the world to hear and accept the message of Jesus. The Church is founded to enable people to share in this vocation and enter into relationship with Christ. The Apostolate from the word mission means one who is sent, a missionary and this is a call to and for all. We have to do our part by taking part in the Apostolate as dictated by our vocation, state of life, employment and health. We have to live our Catholicism and strengthen it. Amen. Hallelujah!


Mark 8:14-21
...Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. 17 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? 18 Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?