Good multiplication

Our Lord’s cryptic statements in today’s Gospel (Mark 8:14-21) puzzled his disciples.

He warns them against “the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod” and reminds them of his multiplication of the loaves.

Leaven, of course, makes bread rise: a little leaven makes larger-looking loaves.

It is something very small that has a disproportionately large effect.

If it is good leaven, that is good.

If the leaven is corrupted, the corruption will spread massively.

It is a warning for us to be careful of the contamination of the world.

It is also a warning for us to be very careful of the immoral short-cuts that the world may offer.

Our Lord’s words in today’s Gospel also remind us of how his power can multiply our efforts to goodness and joy beyond imagination and beyond anything the world can offer.