MARK 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. He enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Gospelthink: I wanted my disciples to understand that I was in charge of life, and that they should allow for my leaven to move them. Do I try to understand what the Lord wants for my life?

"Remember the words you told me, ‘love me till the day I die’, Surrender my everything ‘cause you made me believe you’re mine. Yeah, you used to call me baby, now you’re calling me by name. You push and I’m pulling away from you. I give and you take. Youngblood. Say you want me out of your life, but you need it, all of the time. Youngblood. say you want me back in your life, so I’m just a dead man crawling tonight ‘cause I need it all of the time."

One of the problems that Jesus had with his disciples was their understanding of what He was doing. At one time in the Gospels, Jesus had warned his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees, leaven understood as hatred that had encompassed the Pharisees' minds. That hatred was the opposite of the love that Jesus was trying to teach. He pointed out to the apostles that he had fed the crowds because he had pity on them and wanted to show his love for them. In fact, he had done it twice. The apostles could not comprehend this kind of love and Jesus calls their attention to it.

In some of the love songs of our day, there is a comparable misunderstanding of love. The songs usually talk of romantic love, often in a young relationship especially, with the knowledge that somehow "love" is simply not understood. Such is the case with the song "Youngblood" by the group 5SOS. The song is probably a statement about "young love" by both young parties in the relationship. They want to have commitment, then they wonder whether they understand it. They back off, and then they get together again. It makes a person studying the song to say "Do you still not understand?" Do either of you understand what love is?

The answer as with anyone who sees what Jesus was trying to do as he speaks of "leaven,", was "no." Neither of the couple in the song understands what love is yet. But this is understandable as well. They are both young, they do not yet fully understand the message of love. As they discover love, they are both wondering whether a permanent relationship would work. They cannot find the answer quickly. It takes time and energy on both of their parts to determine whether permanency would work.

It is significant that the name of 5SOS's song is "Youngblood." If they are young and they are living, they will be seeking to discover some romantic love. It is as it should be. As they do it, they should realize that determining such love is a slow process.     

PRAYER

Good and gracious God,  Your Son taught us to love while he was here on earth with us, but we have been slow to accept it. It is especially clear in our "love lives" when we are discovering permanent love. Be with us as we try to determine what love is, both romantically and otherwise. Be with us, we pray. 

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Young love can be very confusing and must be given time to develop well.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What does the song "Youngblood" teach young people?
2. Give your own definition of what Jesus means by the explanation of "leaven."
3. In a relationship, when should a couple say to each other "I love you till the day I die"?
4. In general, do Christian people show by their lives that they truly understand what Jesus taught? Yes or no and why?
5. The very young obviously do not understand love. At what time in a person's life do you think people begin to understand love?
6. Do you agree with the meditation that when younger people try to understand love, they cannot do it without time? Yes or no and why?
7. What age should people be married? 

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America