Good Leaven Bad Leaven

Greetings on this the Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: EPH 1:11-14; PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-13; LK 12:1-7
Notes: In cooking leaven makes the dough rise up, giving it volume, softening, changing texture and improving the flavor of the dough with fermentation.

The yeast you choose brings the effects you desire.

• Good yeast – good outcome.
• Bad yeast – bad outcome.

For the actual and real chefs out there: three types of leavening agents: biological, chemical and steam. In ancient times both heat/sugar and fungi were used in fermentation, for bread and wines, respectively.

Good Biscuits

A long time ago, dinner at my brother’s house, he made disparaging comments on the biscuits his wife prepared. He was comparing his wife’s flakey biscuits with Mom’s hockey puck biscuits from our youth. Mom quickly responded; these are the good biscuits. Mine were garbage. We all laughed! He survived the event.

Bad Biscuits

Hard, rocky, crumbly, dry, tasteless. Useful for leveling tables or chocking a car tire when changing a flat.

Good Leaven

Is known by its effect. Rising you up to the best version of yourself. Rising you up to the heavenly spaces.

Bad Leaven

Puffing you up, exaggeration and being self-absorbed and totally self-interested.

Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy.

First reading
Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Alleluia Verse
May your kindness, LORD, be upon us; who have put our hope in you.

Gospel Portion
Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees.

That is do not follow them. Do not rise up like them.

You may get attacked (like my biscuit story) BUT the attack is powerless before the Lord.

For the Lord is the one who protects you in this life and brings you to your final end to be with him.

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry