Good Leaven

In today's Gospel passage, Mark 8:14-23), Jesus talks about leaven and the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000 with just a bit of bread and a few fish.  Jesus warns against the "bad" leaven, that of the Pharisees and of Herod, rules and attitudes that do not cause a healthy rising of the dough, but fill it with that which poisons the soul. The good leaven however, comes from God, makes the dough rise high and light, and enables more good loaves to be distributed...Faith, certainly is an element of this good leaven, and so is our daily prayer routine, along with something highly recommended by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection and St. Marcellin:  the practice of the Presence of God.  Being aware of God's presence during our day, conversing with God as we go from place to place and task to task, helps to make holy what we do and the people with whom we live and work. We find meaning in even the most insignificant tasks and routine conversations...God becomes a third party giving energy to all we say and do...It's like taking periodic slugs of RED BULL.  No bad side-effects, however, only good ones...With Lent coming up, this might be a good time to put this good leaven into our daily diet.
Bro. Rene