Pronouncement about the Sabbath
“23 One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields, and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’ 25 And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food, 26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions?’ 27 Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath’” Mark 2:23-28.
Sometimes I feel like a voice crying out in the wilderness. For example, I am watching churches and religions from every denomination struggle with LGBTQ+ receiving the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, just like everyone else. Yes, I know we all have our rules and commandments of God, but how can we dole out the grace and mercy of God to those we consider more deserving? Besides, who among us is not a rule breaker and commandment breaker?
The remark that Jesus makes above is what I have come to see after 40 years as a priest, as a pastor. “The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” I believe Jesus created the church for humankind, as a means of His grace and mercy. Jesus, alone, is the Lord of the Sabbath and of the church, which ever church you belong to. So how do we make decisions to welcome certain members of the community and exclude others, when all of us are sinners in our own particular ways? We do so only if we believe we are lord of the Sabbath and of the church. But, clearly, we are not!
I just watched the Pope remind his church of this truth, reminding the church to bless gay couples. And then I watched the African church refuse to do so because “such blessings would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities.” Obviously, they believe that the “cultural ethos of African communities” is Lord of the Sabbath and Lord of their church. But, clearly, that is not true!
I close with the words of Jesus again: Jesus said: "The Sabbath was made for humankind and not humankind for the Sabbath, so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath”
Mark 2:27-28.
All of us need the Sabbath because all of us need the Lord!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” Romans 15:7.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28.
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” 1 Peter 4:9.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” Matthew 25:35.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” Matthew 25:40.
“And Jesus answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself’”
Luke 10:27.
“Let brotherly and sisterly love continue” Hebrews 13:1.
“Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality’”
Acts 10:34.
“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you” John 14:2?
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” Galatians 15:14.
Jesus said: “34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” John 13:34-35.
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