A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 5:1-8
Brothers and sisters: It is widely reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of a kind not found even among pagans– a man living with his father’s wife. And you are inflated with pride. Should you not rather have been sorrowful? The one who did this deed should be expelled from your midst. I, for my part, although absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as if present, pronounced judgment on the one who has committed this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus: when you have gathered together and I am with you in spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our Paschal Lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
REFLECTIONS: "Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened."
During the forced Pandemic quarantine, most people cleaned their drawers, pantries, garages, closets and studies. There were many bags donated to the Women's Center but also many bags of trash were collected. I had to throw away half used big jars of herbs and condiments that were way passed their expiration dates. Part of the quarantine cabin fever was the consumption of comfort food of which baked bread was one of them. Baking bread was creative (so many bread recipes), relieved anxiety and promoted community as families enjoyed the warm baked breads with butter.
However, internationally there was a decreased supply of yeast. Unfortunately many of us found our supply of yeast was stale and good for nothing. It had to be thrown out.
St Paul associates our spiritual life with stale yeast. We have the same routine, same prayers and have stopped reading new books on the saints, or the Fathers of the Church. Some of us don't read the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church. So if our prayer life is not lifting us up nor giving us a new life in the Lord, maybe we need to find new resources, new prayers, more silent time with the Eucharist, and more Bible study so that we know and understand Jesus, our Savior and Salvation, our Redeemer and Redemption.
Increased spiritual activity and constant awareness of Jesus in our presence will keep us from growing stale. PAPA has weekly zoom Bible studies with our spiritual advisor, Father Michael. It is called FACE ZBS. Studying the Bible is the way to salvation. Know our faith. Please consider joining us on Wednesday at 12 noon CST.
God bless you
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