The Son of Man is Lord, even if the Sabbath

Col. 1:21-23, Lk. 6:1-5. In today's first reading, Paul reminds the faithful in Colossae that they have been gifted by God and elevated from their sinful state in which they were alienated from God and did not experience the divine love in its fullness. It is through the death of Jesus that they have been made holy and immaculate and able to enter into the presence of God. Paul also mentions that he is a minister of the good news because he also has been chosen to be part of the salvific plan of God. Thus, Paul challenged them to live in the manner that they had been expected to live, to be good role models in faith and to be inspiration for many others to follow. He encouraged them not to be swayed by worldly temptations or by any fears that could prevent them from finding their true path in the Lord. In Jesus, humble and patient on the Cross, we find ourselves drawn to repudiate sin (2 Cor. 5:21) so that He can present us to God “holy, free of reproach and blame.” To be drawn to God, we must hold on to the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law.

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives an original meaning of the demand of the law on the Sabbath rest. The Sabbath rest is for God’s glory, an invitation to imitate God as the "Giver of life". Indeed, in creation, God gives life to all things. Therefore, the observance of the Sabbath rest means respecting life in every created being by God and above all the human life. When Jesus is questioned about His disciples’ breaking of the Sabbath laws by plucking and milling grain, He first recalls how king David violated the laws of the Temple by sharing with his soldiers the bread reserved for the priests. His comparison is meant to show that if David could do such, then He could even do more, for He is more important than David. He ends His rebuttal to the challenge offered by the religious leaders by saying that "the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath", that is, the need of Himself and of His disciples is more important than the Sabbatical laws, since the purpose of the laws were meant to draw people closer to God and what He was doing with His disciples was making them more aware of the presence of God rather than focusing on the mere observance of the law. When human life is in danger, there is no need holding on to the law so strictly, apart from the law of love. To do charity, to defend and promote human life on the Sabbath is not against the will of God, but the sublime manner in which God is glorified.

May the Lord help us to grow in our relationship with God, so that we may be able to develop our moral character to do what is good because that is what God expects of us! Amen!! Good morning and Happy weekend!!!