the yeast of the brethren
“Do you not know that a little yeast has its effect all through the dough?” —1 Corinthians 5:6
Those who commit sin are like yeast which has its effect all through the Christian community. Therefore, we must:
- overcome temptations to sin so as not to hurt ourselves and others,
- repent and go to Confession as soon as possible if we have sinned,
- forgive those who are sinning and are thereby hurting themselves and our community,
- be ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18) by praying for those who have sinned (1 Jn 5:16), charitably correcting them (Lk 17:3; Mt 18:15; Ez 3:18; 33:7), and leading them to repentance,
- be careful that we ourselves are not conditioned by the sinful (see Jude 23; cf Eph 5:11-12),
- rescue those being corrupted by the yeast of the sinful (see Jude 22), and
- give everything we have for God’s kingdom so as to be yeast that raises the world (Mt 13:33).
“Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. Let us celebrate the feast not with the old yeast, that of corruption and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor 5:7-8).
Prayer: Father, give me a great love for sinners and therefore a great hate for sin.
Promise: Jesus “looked around at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man did so and his hand was perfectly restored.” —Lk 6:10
Praise: After a life of service and charity, St. Peter Claver’s last years were spent in illness, abandonment, and disgrace. Upon his death, the entire city mourned and repented of abandoning him. “Bright as the noonday shall be your vindication. Leave it to the Lord” (Ps 37:6-7).
Reference:
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 22, 2023"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.