Baskets Full of Broken Pieces

AM Psalm 80 • PM Psalm 77, [79]
2 Samuel 7:1-17 • Acts 18:1-11 • Mark 8:11-21

Today’s reading in Mark is one of my favorites. It accentuates the frustration, tinged with a bit of sadness, that Jesus must have felt because the people just did not understand. They missed the deep meaning of his message and the source of his power. They were skeptical of his miracles. Even his faithful disciples struggled to understand, often lacked faith and needed reminding of Jesus’ power and the meaning of his message.

Here in Mark, we read that the Pharisees are trying yet again to test Jesus (likely trying to trap him) by arguing and asking him for a sign. Jesus doesn’t engage with them, but with a deep sigh, he says, almost sotto voce, “why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly, I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation” (from Mark 8:12). He turns, gets in the boat and leaves. I love that! Then in the boat with the disciples, he warns them to “watch out - beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod” (from Mark 8:15). They completely miss the point. It is almost comical that they think he is referring to having no bread (just after he has fed a huge hungry crowd with seven loaves of bread and a few small fish)!

The Pharisees were legalists who put more emphasis on manmade traditions, customs, and law than on God’s priorities of love and faith. Herod and his supporters, the Herodians, were more interested in wealth and political power than in faith and love. I think the word “yeast” or “leaven” means those perspectives and values, if given even a tiny chance, can grow insidiously within one’s character, tainting a person’s heart. Placing more value on law, political power and economics than on justice and compassion will never solve our society’s problems. An attitude towards life based on fear and scarcity hardens the heart and creates and perpetuates hatred, violence, and discrimination. Each of us must have a compassionate heart to follow Jesus and to make his vision of the world a reality, a world based on and filled with justice and equality. It cannot be accomplished with self-centered callousness, but rather requires hearts filled with empathy and love.

Written by Deborah Griffin

...who prays to have eyes that see and ears that hear, and to always remember what is most important.