A reading from the holy Gospel according to Lk 6:1-5
While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath,his disciples were picking the heads of grain,rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.Some Pharisees said,“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”Jesus said to them in reply,“Have you not read what David didwhen he and those who were with him were hungry?How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,which only the priests could lawfully eat,ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
REFLECTION
“The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
The need for relaxation is very important. There are many people who work long hours either because they are workaholics, need the money for their vices or their families, or their work of expertise does not allow them to find another job. We all know either with statistics or just plain common sense that rest and relaxation are good for overall health and happiness.
The day of rest is usually the weekend and we see many weekend warriors, not resting but catching up with chores at home, or trying new recreational sports or overeating, overdrinking and/or sleeping the whole weekend. Even doing work from work at home has been done.
The Sabbath is more than relaxation but a day when we give thanksgiving to God for all He has done for us, worship, praise, adore, repair our relationship with Him and pray. God commanded rest in Exodus 16:26 "On the other six days you can gather it (manna), but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, none of it (manna) will be there." The third commandment of the Ten Commandments states, "Keep the Lord's Day holy".
The Pharisees recognized the letter of the law but not mercy over rules and regulations. They were not able to understand that the Sabbath was a divine gift given to us by our Father. Imagine, God inviting us today to join Him in Heaven on earth in the Mass. Imagine living with Him through His grace.
Praying that we can find time to enjoy our family whom God has gifted us with and planned for us to nurture them. All who are burdened can find true rest and refreshment in Him.
