David Bahn – Reflections

There comes a time when we must simply take ownership of our slowness to believe. While it is true that faith itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit, even those who have the gift of faith too often ignore the implications of it. We who have heard the Good News, seen God’s mighty hand, and experienced his goodness and mercy can too easily forget those things in the course of everyday life. Such was the case of Jesus’ disciples on this occasion.

Matthew 16:1-12

And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ²He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

⁵When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. ⁶Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ⁷And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” ⁸But Jesus, aware of this, said,  “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? ⁹ Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹⁰Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? ¹¹How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

What if the disciples had engaged Jesus differently on this occasion? They might have said to him, “Tell us about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. What in particular is to be avoided?” {OK, I know that’s a question that I had the luxury to reflect on before writing it, but work with me here…!} What if they had simply asked Jesus, “What do you mean?” In stead, they discuss among themselves their failure to bring bread to eat. They don’t engage Jesus. They don’t remember that he is able to feed the multitudes; he doesn’t need bread. He was warning them to beware of the teaching of these who undercut the truth of God’s love and grace. He was urging them to avoid a faithless approach to life with God.

Faith may not have all the answers; in fact faith may sometimes need to stand despite an absence of any logical answer. But faith is willing to go to Jesus seeking understanding and insight. Faith seeks the answers and help of Jesus and engages the world with him. Faith remembers God’s blessings and grace and continually looks to him for more. Faith compels us to repent of our slowness to believe.