FRIDAY, May 28 Ember Day

Matthew 13:31-35. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.

Many of Jesus' parables use images that are far from my experience. I've never found a great treasure or a wonderful pearl. I've never caught fish in a net. And where I live, mustard is a small plant that couldn't serve as a nesting place for even the smallest bird.

But this short parable is an image I know something about, although I'm sure that when Jesus said "yeast" it was something different from the little packets of granules in my refrigerator.

If you have never made anything with yeast, I encourage you to try it. Although it may be mysterious, it isn't difficult, and it can turn out to be a kind of meditation, as one mixes the yeast into the flour, adds the milk, sugar, salt, and oil, kneads it for a while until it is smooth, and then sets it in a warm place to rise.

The dough changes from a heavy, leaden lump into something light and airy. And the smell is wonderful.

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast. Not "pie in the sky," but bread in the oven. Light, beautiful, nourishing, warm. Let's enjoy it! (1993)

PRAY for the Diocese of Cuttack (North India)

Ps 31 * 35; Proverbs 23:19-21, 29-24:2; 1 Timothy 5:17-22(23-25)

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Yes, but...

May 28, 2010 at 6:38 am

Written by Philly Hoffman,

In the world of the Bible yeast was thought of as unclean, to the best of my ubderstanding. Perhaps this parable has a completely different meaning if that fact is applied to your starting position.

...

May 28, 2010 at 7:16 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Parables allow many interpretations. I believe that Jesus was telling us, in his parables, that the Kingdom of Heaven is good.

...

May 28, 2010 at 9:29 am

Written by Andrea,

As Steve says, parables can have many interpretations, and probably did even to Jesus's audience. That's what makes them great teaching tools: they make us think. FWIW I've also heard that yeast was considered unclean. Maybe in part because it was something that women worked with? In any case, even if ancient people thought yeast was unclean, they needed bread. There is, at the very least, a mystery at the heart of this parable, like so many others: The yeast may by itself be suspect, but without it, the wonderful transformation of flour and water into bread is very difficult. So even if the kingdom of heaven is subversive, it's a profound transformative force that takes us from our rather lumpish human selves to a light, airy, life-giving state... Whatever it may mean, personally, I like the way that Jesus used a metaphor of women's work here to describe the action of the kingdom.

parables

May 28, 2010 at 9:49 am

Written by a. brook,

Like most thngs, yeast's value (good or bad) was/is determined, in large part, by its use. This is true be it yeast that raises flour to allow for feeding more or yeast that raises infection. Yeast is yeast, how will we tend to it?
"Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Text: Walter Chalmers Smith
Music: Welsh melody from John Roberts's Canaidau y Cyssegr "

Knowing He was speaking to His immediate audience and to you and I, and those before and those yet to come, parables indeed were/are a significant vehicle of The Living Word. "How Great is our God!"

...

May 28, 2010 at 10:43 am

Written by Sheri Christi,

I've always thought the yeast represented an attitude of (spiritual) love, which is small (little worldly praise for it) but can transform transform oursevles, our relationships. The people we affect may, in turn, adopt a similar attitude and affect others; thus, it is possible for the love to multiply.
The idea of yeast being unclean is interesting. It is a fungus and all fungi live on dead matter, so in that sense it may seem unclean. Of course, I'm not sure what the Jews were thinking....

Metaphor

May 28, 2010 at 10:11 pm

Written by Decipher,

What if the yeast represented those chosen by God to spread the kingdom in the world? What if the world were represented by the three measures of flour? What if these people chosen by God to spread the kingdom kept working until all the world became part of the kingdom? (until all the bread was leavened, that is?). That's the way I see this. I'm not an evangelist or anything. Just my interpretation. Christ did say the kingdom of God is now. Here. Among you. In the world. Sounds logical to me.

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