Leaven

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?"
Mark 8:14-21

Reflection:
Watch out for those with puffed up, inflated egos because of their rise in power. But Jesus also teaches his disciples something far more significant. The multiplication of the bread. Did they not see with their own eyes the leftovers from both accounts.

What are they worried for then? Because they have one loaf of bread in the boat with them, they thought Jesus could not do the extraordinary. Or was it simply Jesus telling them their egos were getting inflated like the Pharisees and like Herod, out of being chosen his disciples.

How about us! Do we get over inflated ourselves when we become important. Remember how easy it is to punch down the leaven, it goes down in size to be kneaded and formed. Can we guard against this type of rise. But more importantly can we have faith strong enough to believe in Jesus and his miracles?

The disciples saw with their own eyes, we do not, yet our faith is strong in spite of what we do not see. Is our faith strong without seeing? Do we too need to witness a great miracle like the multiplication of loaves in order for us to understand the mystery of Jesus' ministry to us. Is our egos that puffed up like leaven that keep us blinded to God's truth. Only you know that answer.