Who Is the Lord of My Sabbath?

  

 Mark 2: 23-28

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

²³ Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. ²⁴ And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: ²⁶ how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

²⁷ And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

The wisdom and practicality of Jesus glow as he faces the challenge proposed by the Pharisees.  Of course, his followers had to eat, a greater need and good than observing the law.  We talk about "bending the law," and if survival is our goal, then bend, bend, bend! Can we be as flexible?  Or are we too "flexible" at times, taking on no account of why a  law is there?  How do I use my Sunday? Do I go to Mass or to Worship? Many of necessity have to work on this day; does that exempt them from the need to take some time, nevertheless, and set it aside for prayer, reflection and rest of both body and soul?  As much as the body needs food, so does the soul need its nourishment, otherwise it dries up, withers and dies. Don't we build relationships and friendships by spending time with one another?  Why is not God part of this equation?

Bro. Rene