GOSPEL READING:
Matthew 12:1-81 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath." 3 He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is lord of the Sabbath."
Meditation: What does the commandment "keep holy the
Sabbath" require of us? Or better yet, what is the primary
intention behind this command? 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.
Mercy and not sacrifice
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. In
their hunger, David and his men ate of the holy bread offered in
the Temple. Jesus also quoted of the Sabbath work involved in
worship in the Temple. This kind of work was usually double the
work of worship on weekdays. Jesus then quotes from the prophet
Hosea (6:6): I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. While the
claims of ritual sacrifice are important to God, mercy and
kindness in response to human need are even more important. Do you
honor the Lord in the way you treat your neighbor and celebrate
the Lord's Day?
Lord, make us to walk in your way: Where there is love and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance; where there is patience and humility, there is neither anger nor annoyance; where there is poverty and joy, there is neither greed nor avarice; where there is peace and contemplation, there is neither care nor restlessness; where there is the fear of God to guard the dwelling, there no enemy can enter; where there is mercy and prudence, there is neither excess nor harshness; this we know through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Prayer of Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226)
Psalm 116:12-19
12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid. You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Seventh Day, from the early Greek fathers, attributed to Eusebius of Alexandria (5th century AD)
"Now every week has seven days. Six of these God has given to us
for work, and one for prayer, rest, and making reparation for our
sins, so that on the Lord's Day we may atone to God for any sins
we have committed on the other six days. Therefore, arrive early
at the church of God; draw near to the Lord and confess your sins
to him, repenting in prayer and with a contrite heart. Attend the
holy and divine liturgy; finish your prayer and do not leave
before the dismissal. Contemplate your master as he is broken and
distributed, yet not consumed. If you have a clear conscience, go
forward and partake of the body and blood of the Lord." (excerpt from SERMON 6, 1-2)
