Lenten Reader | Day 18

March 10th, 2026

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

“Twelve,” they replied.

“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”

They answered, “Seven.”

He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Mark 8:14-26

Yeast of the Pharisees

We live in a world where the secular community and even some religious circles have decided that “truth” is a relative term and that we each have our own “truth” by which we may live. But today’s reading reminds us to embrace the example and teachings of Christ and that if we are not careful, we can get pulled into the hypocrisy of the Pharisees which can grow and spread like yeast through the flour.

The disciples became worried about having enough bread. Even after just witnessing firsthand one of the greatest miracles of Christ where he fed thousands with a few loaves. We look to ourselves, our government, our leaders, social media influencers, and the news to find our peace, our comfort, our guidance, and our Truth.

In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

During this Lenten season, we need to put down our phones, turn off the news, quit focusing on those that agree or don’t agree with us, and get into relationship with Christ. Focus on the miracles, the teachings, the life lessons, and most important we need to spend time in the Word.

Michelle Rout