The Yeast of Anxiety

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.’ And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side. Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, ‘Watch out—beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ They said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’ And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ They said to him, ‘Twelve.’ ‘And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?’ And they said to him, ‘Seven.’ Then he said to them, ‘Do you not yet understand?’ They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, ‘Can you see anything?’ And the man looked up and said, ‘I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.’ Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently, and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Then he sent him away to his home, saying, ‘Do not even go into the village.’ Mark 8:11-26

In these times, it is easy to give into fear and anxiety. It can bubble up when we are otherwise calm and take over our thinking and out spirit. Fear grows like yeast, bubbling up and spilling out all over. I love baking bread, love watching it rise and even more I like punching it down and kneading the dough. It is therapeutic to me, allowing me to get out all my frustrations and fears. Bread is not good if the dough is not punched down and kneaded. Clay is not good unless all the air is pounded out and it is kneaded thoroughly. We are invited today to find ways to pound out our fears and knead out the bubble of worry that paralyze us, so God can use us in the healing of our world.

Gracious Creator, source of all healing

you promise to provide our needs 

you help us along the darkest paths

and take us by the hand and lead is home.

Fear and anxiety bubble up within us

we fear the worst in a dangerous world

our voices go silent as anxiety creeps in

and we are like lost sheep bleating for help.

Help us Lord to fight against the evil ones

who loves to stir up our fears and anxieites

let us put all our trust in your daily provision

and make room for the healing each of us needs. Amen.