Beware of the Leaven of the World

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

CHRIST one time warned his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod which they did not understand at first. (cfr. Mk 8,14-21) It took them time to understand that the leaven Christ was talking about was not the leaven of the bread but rather the doctrine or the teachings, the laws and the ways of the Pharisees and Herod.

The same warning remains valid and in effect up to this time, since there is no doubt that we are today flooded with all kinds of doctrine and ideologies that are becoming more and more in conflict with Christian doctrine and ways.

We have to be wary of today’s many false doctrines that can sound good and can come up with fair promises and assurances, but they actually lack the power to make things happen. They can contain many theoretical truths and can also be supported by a lot of data, facts and other so-called scientific findings, but they lack the most crucial element—the proper spirit.

Yes, false doctrines can give some measure of good results and satisfaction. But that’s where the real danger is, where the subtle treachery is committed. Without the proper spirit of God, it is nothing less than a sweet poison.

False doctrines are usually found, and in abundance at that, in the fields of politics, the social sciences, philosophies and ideologies, and in all the other human enterprises that are not animated by the Christian spirit.

They come as a result of developing some human systems that rely solely on human power and estimation. In a sense, these systems choose to go rogue in developing themselves. They prefer to be entirely on their own. God is taken out of the picture.

In some reports, for example, a number of political parties all over the world have dropped the expression, “under God,” in their pledges of allegiance or commitment. This omission is clearly a sign of the growing secularization taking place in many parts of the world. It’s when to be politically correct, one has to take God out of the picture.

Thus, there is an urgent need to undertake the work of evangelization, that is, to communicate the saving word of God to everyone. In a world that is becoming more and more toxic with all sorts of hot issues, confusing ideologies, belligerent opinions, etc., practically drowning us, there is the urgent need to let God’s healing word to reach and touch people’s hearts.

This task of evangelization belongs to everyone, whether one is a priest or a religious person or a simple lay person. Everyone should realize that it is Christ who is asking us to evangelize. He is actually appealing to us, begging us to help him carry out the continuing work of human redemption that definitely involves the evangelization of people

This is simply the effect and consequence of being a Christian who is supposed to be like Christ and to share his mission of evangelizing and redeeming everyone. We also have to apply to ourselves those words Christ told his apostles: “As the Father has sent me, so also I am sending you.” (Jn 20,21)

Evangelization is an integral and indispensable part of the whole mission of Christ—the redemption of mankind. While it may immediately concern itself in the transmission of the doctrine of our faith, it cannot go alone without being vitally and organically connected to the other aspects of human redemption.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com