Shopping Tips from Jesus

Gospel: Mark 8: 14-21

Avid shoppers know that not all products are created equal.  Some are of better quality than others, and a wise shopper will know over time through experience which products to buy and which ones to avoid.  That same shopper will also know which stores are more reliable and trustworthy to patronize and which ones are not to be patronized because they cheat their customers and provide poor quality products.  

Today Jesus gives us a bit of shopping advice when it comes to yeast, here meaning the motivation for providing food for others.  The Pharisees and Herod provide food for people, but their motivation for doing so is to ingratiate themselves with the masses, to elicit their support in order to consolidate power and exert control over people.  That must never be the yeast or motivation of followers of the Lord Jesus.  Our motivation must always be for the good of others alone with no considerations of self-interest on our part at all.

Love alone must be the guiding star and principle of genuine care and outreach to others.  That is the good yeast that leads to authentic transformation.  The yeast of self-interest is illusory: it is puffed up but it has no staying power and will eventually flatten and disappoint.  Always seek after the good stuff, the yeast Jesus provides that raises everyone up and leaves no one behind.