AVOIDING THE YEAST OF SIN


TUESDAY, SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Gen 6:5-8,7:1-5,10; Ps 29:1-4,9-10; Mk 8:14-21

The Spread of Yeast of Sin

The eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which is the choice of our first parents to walk the dialectical path, produced its results or fruits with time. In this case, it resulted in the accumulation of evil on earth. The path proceeds with knowledge of evil first, then a decision to acquire the corresponding good that eliminates evil by illuminating it with the light of the word of God or choosing a greater evil to cover up the first evil. Either of these choices subsequently launches us into fuller beings by knowledge of the corresponding good or drags us deeper into the web of evil and darkness. The same process is repeated either way. As we read yesterday, Cain’s anger and ill disposition were an invitation to reconsider his ways in prayerful reflection before God and amend his ways, or to move from anger to hatred of his brother Abel and shedding of his blood. He chose greater evil and entered deeper into darkness and became more entangled in the web of sin and evil. These describe the dialectical path or the path of knowledge of good and evil.

We point out here that the first understanding of evil means the absence of a good that ought to be. Thus, the evil may be: physical, psychological, intellectual, moral, and even social or societal. When a physical thing or system fails, we have a physical evil; we have moral evil when the failure is moral, as in the case of Cain. These evils or failures are causally connected. A moral failure would usually lead to social failure, physical failure, etc. From the scriptural point of view, which the sacred author wants us to understand, moral failure is the cause of these other failures or evils. The failure of the ground to yield its crop for Cain, which is a physical failure or evil, is a result of his moral failure. Hence, the first reading tells us that God decided to allow a major physical evil that would wipe men and other animals off the face of the earth. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that the thoughts in his heart fashioned nothing but wickedness all day long. The Lord regretted having made man on the earth, and his heart grieved. ‘I will rid the earth’s face of man, my own creation,’ the Lord said ‘and of animals also, reptiles too, and the birds of heaven; for I regret having made them.’” The sacred author wants us to understand the connection between our moral evil and other evils we suffer as consequences. These failures constitute the evils that characterise the dialectical path we are travelling.

Our merciful God does not just allow these other failures to punish us, but to bring us to repent of our evil choices and walk the alternative dialectical path of knowledge/awareness of evil, repentance, faith, and openness to the word of God, and choice of doing God’s will. Noah pleased God and was spared because he walked this alternative dialectical path. All who walk this alternative path will find peace amidst these failures, for they will have the light of God’s word to guide them. Our Lord warns us against walking the evil path of the Pharisees and unbelievers by imitating their lives. “Then he gave them this warning, ‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’” We are best guarded and guided by paying attention to the word of God, which is our light in the darkness of any evil. The word of God helps us to understand the cause of any failure. Hence, hearing the voice of the Lord daily within our temples chases away the darkness of error and unbelief. “The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters, the Lord on the immensity of waters; the voice of the Lord, full of power, the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.” When he speaks light is formed, and in his silence, darkness descends. Our Lord is the Incarnate Wisdom that walks the dialectical path with us and turns it into the path to the fullness of life. “Are you still without perception? He asks us.”

Let us pray: O God, shed the fullness of your light within our hearts, that we may be prepared and made a suitable dwelling place for your divine Majesty, so that walking in the presence of your Eternal Word, we may attain fuller life each day with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

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