As we draw near to the end of '2011: the year of the Bible', we might ask the question, "Well, what difference has that made to anyone?" These pastoral reflections through the year have focused especially upon stories told by Jesus in the gospels, that point to the need for change: the purpose of parables is that they challenge our thinking.
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.
The point of yeast is not to turn everything else into yeast. However much we might like Marmite, a little goes a long way! The purpose of yeast is to change the chemistry of everything else so that something wholesome and edible is created and shared by all. We sometimes give the impression in 'church' that we expect everybody else to become 'like us'. Perhaps sometimes we even convince ourselves that this is a worthy focus of our prayer and worship. A little yeast goes a long way. The call to 'offer Christ' in our communities might lead us into any number of places and encounters that touch people's lives in Christ-like ways, as agents of change and transformation. Is this how we understand our discipleship?
The word picture about yeast might also be true of our personal faith. Holding a verse of scripture or a Biblical story in mind over a period of time can act like yeast within us: it informs our thinking, it can help us to make God-sense of what is happening to us, and change our perspectives and priorities. The disciples who encountered the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus, and unknowingly offered him hospitality, had the sense as they listened to Him, of their hearts 'burning within'. We might ask ourselves whether during this year of the Bible we have opened not only the pages of the book but also the pages of our lives, and given space for a conversation between the two. Is our faith burning within us, gradually transforming the whole, like yeast? "Burning within?" is the title of the District Biblefresh Day on 5th Nov. at Knaresborough: an invitation to engage in creative ways with the scriptures, and to hear Revd Dr Martyn Atkins address us on the theme of Deeper Discipleship. See local publicity and book your place now - even if you do not like Marmite!
Liz Smith,
Chair of Leeds Methodist District
www.leedsmethodist.org.uk
23/10 2011