Moral Compass
Who are our modern day Pharisees?
The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.' And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, 'Watch out-beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.' They said to one another, 'It is because we have no bread.' And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?' They said to him, 'Twelve.' 'And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?' And they said to him, 'Seven.' Then he said to them, 'Do you not yet understand?' - Mark 8:11-21
It must have been very frustrating for Jesus when his disciples failed to understand what he was telling them.
He tried to warn them about the influence of the Pharisees, especially their ability to spread disinformation and ignorance of God, like yeast spreading through flour to make the dough rise.
They were well respected leaders of the faith, people everyone should believe would tell the truth, so their influence was great, and they knew it.
All they had to do was say this is wrong or that is evil, and the people would rise up and be ready to bring punishment and even death to the one accused.
Beware, says Jesus. And we too should beware.
Of course, if it is something we want to believe, no one can convince us that we are wrong. And so it was with the word of the Pharisees. Many would easily and readily believe them, since they were the moral compass.
So, how do we know whom we should trust?
I guess the message is to listen for the voice of reason, the one small voice that tells us to be wary of all other voices. Maybe if we do that, we might hear with a touch of uncertainty, and come to a decision for ourselves.
Just because someone is a trusted leader of the faith, it doesn't mean he or she speaks without seeking to spread yeast in the flour, to cause all of us to rise up in anger.
More to come...