Jesus lived in constant tension. In his incarnation, he fully embraced human life with all its challenges, even to the point of salvific suffering. He was and is God with us. Yet, in doing so, he was also leading us—orienting our hearts to what is true, calling us into participation in the divine life, and inviting us to rely on God’s faithfulness. It is in this reliance that the human elements of life find their right order, allowing them to be experienced and enjoyed in the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

At the same time, Jesus wrestled with people where they were—in their ignorance and pride. In today’s Gospel, we see him address two mindsets in tension with love and the Kingdom he came to establish. The first, the ‘yeast’ of the Pharisees, represents self-righteousness and a resistance to God moving beyond their expectations. As the religious elite, they held tightly to their status. The second, the ‘yeast’ of Herod, reflects the pursuit of power at the expense of integrity—a willingness to bypass truth to maintain dominance.

It is easy to see this same tension at work today, both in the Church and in our own hearts. Jesus’ words invite us to ask for the grace to see clearly, to rely on the Holy Spirit for perception, and to remain in a posture of humility.

by Caleb Bowles