Unleavened Bread

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Unleavened Bread

Sincerity   Truth

Remove   Rebuke   Sins

Clear Out Old Yeast

Celebrate

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   First Corinthians 5: 7

Clear out the old yeast. In this way you can become a fresh batch of dough. You are unleavened. Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. 

Reflection

How do you feel when you are trying something new? I always have a sense of excitement. I'm looking forward to a new way of doing things. I don't know exactly what will happen. Things might go well or it could be a disaster. 

In our reading from First Corinthians that newness is conveyed by St. Paul through the image of unleavened bread. That bread is simple and can be made quickly. It was used by our Jewish sisters and brothers when they had to leave Egypt in a hurry.

They were starting over. A great way to begin anew is to do so with sincerity. We can take an honest look at what we have been doing lately and see if any changes should be made. Are there things that we can do better or in a different way? 

I remember as a teacher I would always look at how I taught a course the year before and see if there were any new approaches that would be more effective for my students. The unleavened bread of teaching can lead to many different loaves. 

The changes that we make after we reflect and pray are based on our search for the truth. We want to find what is helpful for us and for others. We want to improve ourselves and our community so that we can bring new life to others. Our unleavened bread is meant to feed both ourselves and others, especially those most in need of our assistance.

Sometimes this involves removing our blinders that have been causing us to miss things that are very obvious. I can think of baseball players who are in a slump and will make simple adjustments with great results. They are starting anew and rebuking their old habits. It can be as easy as standing a little closer to the plate to cover the outside corner.

It can also mean taking a sincere and truthful look at certain sins we might be committing. Sometimes we can fall into habits of being too selfish or self-centered. We can keep all of that delicious new bread for ourselves and refuse to share our blessings with others.

It might be time for us to clear out that old yeast and take a look at what we can do to reach out to those in our community who are in need, who are afraid, and against whom others are discriminating. That old yeast of selfishness is not really going to help us as we try to make our new bread of kindness and compassion for all.

Jesus has given his life for us as our reading indicates. He is our Paschal Lamb. Jesus is offering us new bread---the Bread of Life. When we open our eyes fully and realize what we have been given, we can feast on that unleavened bread and ask ourselves what we need to change to participate more completely in that New Life.

Alleluia!! Alleluia!!

1. How do you feel when you are starting something new?

2. Did you ever feel like unleavened bread?

3. Why is sincerity so important when we are taking a look at some changes we should make in our lives?

4. Whom have you been feeding with your unleavened bread?

5. What do you see as you pray about Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John McNamara)