First reading Colossians 1:21-23
God has reconciled you by Christ’s death in his mortal body
Not long ago, you were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now he has reconciled you, by his death and in that mortal body. Now you are able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless – as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never letting yourselves drift away from the hope promised by the Good News, which you have heard, which has been preached to the whole human race, and of which I, Paul, have become the servant.
Responsorial Psalm 53(54):3-4,6,8
God himself is my help.
O God, by your name save me,
and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
Behold, God is my helper;
the Lord sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice;
I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
Gospel Luke 6:1-5
The Son of Man is master of the sabbath
One sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. Some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God, took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’
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The Sabbath rest
The Jewish people observe the Sabbath as a day of rest. The term “Sabbath” comes from the Hebrew word that means to stop and rest. God established the Sabbath to allow individuals to take a break from work and engage in acts of kindness, compassion, and service, reflecting His love and mercy. Unfortunately, Jewish religious leaders imposed a strict set of laws for observing the Sabbath. In their meticulous adherence to these rules, they sometimes overlooked the true meaning of Sabbath rest.
In today’s gospel, Jesus’ disciples felt hungry, plucked ripe grain, and ate it. The Pharisees were outraged, claiming they broke Sabbath law. Jesus reminded them that King David and his followers once ate the bread meant for priests out of hunger. For Jesus, the Sabbath is a time for doing good, emphasising that the needs of people should take precedence over rules and regulations. This means that the hungry must be fed, the sick must be healed, the lonely must be listened to, and the poor must be aided. Let us connect with God and extend His love to others.
Reflective question:
How can I follow Jesus, the Master of the Sabbath, today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.
