“Yeast” by Melanie Rigney

“Yeast” by Melanie Rigney

Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time 

For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of His Body. (Ephesians 5:29-30)

Blessed are those who fear the Lord. (Psalm 128:1a) 

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.” (Luke 13:20-21)

Piety

Jesus, you are the bread of life. Please show me how to share You with those who hunger. 

Study

Remember earlier this year, when toilet paper, paper towels, and the like were in short supply? Well, so was yeast. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to bake bread, sweet rolls, and the like.

Slowly, paper goods returned to the shelves, as did yeast. Now, we’re being warned that the surge in covid-19 cases and deaths could put in particular baking goods in short supply as more people will be staying at home for the holidays and making cookies, pies, candy, and, yes, bread and other things that require yeast. 

Yeast is a funny thing. While it will last a couple of years unopened in a cool place, once it’s opened, you’ve got about four months to use it if you keep it refrigerated. Otherwise, please don’t count on it doing its thing with dough.

The Kingdom of God is a funny thing that way too. While faith will last a while without some care, it leavens nothing in ourselves and others if we don’t use it. If you take it off the shelf or out of the cupboard after months, it may be dead. And while unlike yeast, dead faith can be reborn, it takes a lot of effort. 

So, if you’re stocking up on sugar, flour, toilet paper, and the like, don’t forget the yeast—but not just the kind you buy.

Action

Be a leavening agent.

Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/dough-knead-bake-food-cake-eat-3082589/ by Andreas Lischka from Pixabay.