Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
- Mary Jo Barr
- Jan 20
- 2 min read
Gospel Mark 2:23-28
As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions? ”Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
REFLECTION
In the past few readings, we have been hearing how Jesus is being questioned by the Pharisees about His behavior and His disciples' behaviors.
First, when he taught in the synogogues the people hear that he teaches with His own authority. Second, the Pharisees question Jesus about fasting and why don't His disciples fast like John's disciples did. Third, they are questioning Him about His disciples picking grain on the Sabbath. All instances of Jesus' actions are different from the traditions kept by the Pharisees, Scribes, and Levites and impossed on the people. What is Jesus doing?
The Pharisees and the other Jewish leaders are blinded from seeing Jesus as the Messiah. They can't see because they are blinded by fear of losing their power or status.
Jesus' purpose is to bring them back to understand the original meaning of the Sabbath. The Sabbath represents the day that God rested after creation. Now He wants to share the Sabbath, His divine rest and eternity, with man.
Today, we don't understand the purpose of the Sabbath.
Why do we as Catholics go to Mass on Sundays? The reason is that we are celebrating our liberation from original sin. We are expressing and showing God our gratitude for freeing us from the slavery of sin and making us children of God. We are given a chance to be in the presence of our God and commune with Him at the Eucharistic table.
What can we do to prepare for Sunday? Can we plan a day with our family that begins with reading the Sunday readings together before Mass? Maybe some questions arise. Write them down. When you have a chance to talk to the priest, ask him your questions. Can you spend your Sunday enjoying God's creation with your family? Maybe you can let God know that you are grateful for all He has created for you!
Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for His inspiration on how to celebrate Sundays.
Resources
Comments