Reflection On Mark 8: 14-21

Leaven is a symbol of corruption among the Jews. Here, Jesus warns the disciples against the corruption of Herod and the Pharisees. How is this corruption manifested? Recall that the Pharisees who have already closed their hearts to Jesus ask Him for a sign from heaven, refusing to attribute His power to God. Herod shows a hostile attitude towards Jesus, suspecting that He is the John the Baptist came back to life again and when Jesus is brought before him, Herod asks Him for a sign. Just as fermentation takes place only when leaven is mixed with dough, so Herod and Pharisees will believe only if they witness miracles what Jesus asks of the disciples is to trust in Him even without seeing signs. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
In the Old Testament, the story of the flood says that God felt sorry because the creation which was originally good, fell into the hands of evil men. Only Noah is found righteous, the one chosen to be saved. Jesus, when he came, felt sorry because the chosen race too had fallen into the hands of ‘evil men’, the Pharisees and the scribes. So He warns His disciples not to be influenced by them. The problem with the Pharisees and the Scribes was that they understood themselves to be the cream of the chosen race. In other words, in their opinion, if there was another flood, they would be the ones who would find a place in the ark of redemption. But the truth is that God saves the righteous, not the self-righteous.
Dr.Albert Schweitzer, a dedicated social worker and missionary, was struggling with a piece of timber in the courtyard of his hospital at Lamberina in Africa. When a modern looking Negro youth came to visit his brother who was admitted in the hospital Schweitzer requested the youth to help him to move the log a bit. The youth with hands in the pockets of his coat, replied, “Sorry, this is the work of forth class laborers. I am an intellectual.” The doctor who had four doctorates in Philosophy, Theology, Music and Medicine, burst out in laughter and said, “I too wanted to be one, but I would not.” Pharisees and the scribes were the ‘useless’ intellectuals of the Jewish society. Let us keep our whole trust in the Lord; not imitate the Pharisees and the scribes. Let us be righteous in the God’s saving power; not in human hands. Let us not seek signs, wonders or miracles; instead believe in Him wholeheartedly.


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