Gospel, Mark 2:23-28 23 It happened that one Sabbath day he was taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples began to make a path by plucking ears of corn.
24 And the Pharisees said to him, 'Look, why are they doing something on the Sabbath day that is forbidden?'
25 And he replied, 'Have you never read what David did in his time of need when he and his followers were hungry-
26 how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the loaves of the offering which only the priests are allowed to eat, and how he also gave some to the men with him?'
27 And he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath;
28 so the Son of man is master even of the Sabbath.'
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The religious leaders confronted Jesus on this issue.
The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to
remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his work, both in
creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work
of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring
everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. Jesus'
disciples are scolded by the scribes and Pharisees, not for plucking and eating
corn from the fields, but for doing so on the Sabbath.
In defending His disciples, Jesus argues from the scriptures
that human need has precedence over ritual custom. When David and his men were
fleeing for their lives, they sought food from Ahim'elech the priest (1 Samuel
21:1-6). The only bread he had was the holy bread offered in the Temple. None
but the priests were allowed to eat it. In their hunger, David and his men ate
of this bread. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the Sabbath was given for our
benefit, to refresh and renew us in living for God. It was intended for good
and not for evil.
Withholding mercy and kindness in response to human need was
not part of God’s intention that we rest from unnecessary labour. Do you honour
the Lord in the way you treat your neighbour and celebrate the Lord’s Day?
"Lord Jesus, may I give you fitting honour in the way I
live my life and in the way I treat my neighbour. May I honour the Lord's Day
as a day holy to You. And may I always treat others with the same mercy and
kindness which you have shown to me. Free me from a critical and intolerant
spirit that I may always seek the good of my neighbour."
The following reflection is courtesy of Presentation
Ministries (c) 2013.
Their website is located at presentationministries.com
LOVING TO WORK
"Do not grow lazy." —Hebrews
6:12
The Lord could have worked out His plan of salvation without
involving us, but He decided to make us parts of His body (see 1 Cor 12:12). He
has chosen to accomplish His plan through our lives of good works (Eph 2:10).
Therefore, it is extremely important for us to work hard for the Lord. Thus,
the Lord commanded us to beg the Harvest Master to send workers into His
harvest (Mt 9:38). Because our work is so important, Satan tries to shut it
down. He lies to us by saying our work is so meaningless that it will soon be
forgotten by others and even by God. Yet, the truth is that God "will not
forget your work and the love you have shown Him by your service, past and
present, to His holy people" (Heb 6:10). Another tactic by which the devil
tries to slow down or stop our work is planting doubt in us about the reward of
our labours. We are tempted to wonder if our work will ever amount to much and
even if "our reward will be great in heaven" (see Mt 5:12; 2 Tm 4:8).
The truth is that we can be fully assured of that for which we hope and of
inheriting God's promises (Heb 6:11-12; Mt 10:41-42). A third tactic Satan uses
is to convince us to "take a break," that we have "done our
share," and we now need to "take some time for ourselves."
However, we "must never grow weary of doing what is right" (2 Thes
3:13). Resist these temptations. Work hard and harder for the Lord (see Hg
2:4). "Our desire is that each of you show the same zeal till the
end" (Heb 6:11).
Prayer: Father, may I work with my whole being for You (Col
3:23).
St. Joseph the Worker, pray for me to find my life's work fruitful.
Promise: "The Son of Man is Lord even of the
sabbath." —Mk 2:28
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