The WORD in Other Words by Fr Eduardo Rocha SVD (Philippines)
Tuesday Week 6 Ordinary Time Year 1
Genesis 6,5-8.7,1-5.10
Mark 8,14-21
Today’s Gospel ends with a question: Do you still not understand?” The disciples misunderstood Jesus when He warned them to guard themselves against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. The disciples thought that they were given such warning because they had no bread at that very moment.
What does Jesus mean by ‘watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and leaven of Herod?” Jesus is encouraging us to be attentive with ourselves. Let not accomplishments, positions of honour, or academic titles go into our heads. Those are temporary and they contribute much in building pride, leading us to look down on others and become blind to their needs.
The Pharisees and Herod thought they got the whole world in their hands. The Pharisees for example projected an air of superiority over ordinary Jews, but it was all airs because of their hypocritical, pretentious, and self-righteous living. That’s why they hated Jesus because Jesus exposed their true identity. Jesus is warning us to avoid lifestyle of the Pharisees.
Jesus taught us how we should live as true and genuine Christians and showed us how to concretise His teachings. He keeps asking us, “Do you still not understand?”
