Parables - Yeast

-


The Parable of Yeast


Dear Siblings in God,


Grace and peace from our loving God.


Let us pray …

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, Collects


I would ask you to read the Yeast (Leaven) parables from Matthew 13:33 | Luke 13:20-21 (Snodgrass). 


Jesus in this yeasty parable again is trying to explain what the Kingdom of God is like.


One of my most favorite times in my life was Steve and Paula’s New Year’s Eve Bread Party. Both of them were great bakers and great hosts at a party. We would be almost knocked down by the flavors and aromas as we entered the door. Taking off our coats we would give them our contribution and grab a plate and a drink. There were a dozen or more loaves that were brought with everyone’s favorite “schmears”. It truly was a delightful time of bluegrass music, noise of conversation with people known and newly known, and more eating than drinking. Yeast made the sharing of the celebration possible in the bread (and the beer)!


Jesus in this verse or two describes what the kingdom of God is like.


I think we as followers of the Way are the leaven or yeast that improves the taste/the culture by faith and acts of love and kindness from that faith.  It is always remarkable to me how God invites us in this action/this dance to change the world. With faith, love, forgiveness, and action we share in this Eternal transformation for good.


Kendall’s thoughts on the yeast parable teaches us:

  1. Never underestimate the potential of small beginnings in Christian life

  2. There is no limit of how the Holy Spirit to what can happen in a person’s life

  3. All things happen (in our lives) even when we are not aware that we are being changed (p. 41)


As a little yeast transforms bread, so our life and little actions in Christ powered by the Holy Spirit can transform the world.


How “yeasty” is your life?


May we be blessed as we journey with Jesus.

May God be with you.


Sincerely,

Dave Eitland

deitland@gmail.com


Photo Credit - Katheryn M King


Sources for blog

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 91 - There and back ... a geneology of God's people

-
Image
  2024 Read the Bible in a Year April 2, 2024 Tuesday of Easter Week Readings for Today: Day 91 - 1 Chronicles 1:1 - 9:44 See the animated overview of the Chronicles above. Prayer: Loving God, dissolve the barriers of suspicion that divide us from one another. Fill us with your love that casts out fear. Clothe us in your light and grace, that we may be agents of hope and encouragement for those who despair and have lost their way. Help us each find our particular way to proclaim the good news of your saving love in our daily lives and work. We pray that our government and leaders at every level of authority may be strengthened to heal the structures that bruise your people. God, hear our prayers. Amen (All Saints Episcopal Church - Pasadena prayers - 27 Oct 2019 worship) Reflection:  Today’s reading is everything you wanted to know about the genealogy from Adam to the return of leaders from the Exile. It is interesting reading that we can directly follow God's work via each pe...
Read more

2nd Quarter Readings - 2024 Read the Bible in a Year!

-
Image
Road to Emmaus by Robert Gung Read the Bible in a Year Second Quarter Readings April 1 to June 30, 2024 Date Day Reading 4/1      90        2 Kings 22:1 - 25:30 4/2         91           1 Chronicles 1:1 – 9:44 4/3      92         1 Chronicles 10:1 – 12:40 4/4      93 1 Chronicles 13:1 – 16:43 4/5      94 1 Chronicles 17:1 – 22:1 4/6      95 1 Chronicles 22:2 – 27:34 4/7      96 1 Chronicles 28:1 – 29:30 4/8      97 2 Chronicles 1:1 – 5:1 4/9      98 2 Chronicles 5:2 – 9:31 4/10      99 2 Chronicles 10:1 – 13:22 4/11      100 2 Chronicles 14:1 – 16:14 4/12      101 2 Chronicles 17:1 – 20:37 4/13      102 2 Chronicles 21:1 – 24:27 4/14      103 2 Chronicles 25...
Read more

Parables - New Wineskins

-
Image
Dear Friends, Grace and peace from our loving God. Let us pray … Kindle in our hearts, O God, the flame of love that never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in your temple, raging set on fire with your eternal light, even your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen A Celtic Liturgy - Morning Prayer, p. 21;  Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2008, ed. Today’s Parable - Wineskins / Luke 5:37 Jesus in this scene is having a party with known sinners after the conversion of a tax collector. Some religious people are critical of this action. They point to the disciples of John the Baptist and whose piety is fasting and prayer and why is Jesus not doing it their way. Kendall points to this parable of Jesus as a calling of established and mature religious people to create themselves as new wineskins for new wine. (If you put new wine in old wineskins, it will explode because of fermentation.) The Holy Spirit constantly inspires...
Read more