Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Heb 6:10-20; Mk 2:23-28
Today’s Gospel favors mercy over rule-keeping.
The controversy in the Gospel text is regarding Jesus’ disciples plucking the heads of grain, which is an infringement of the law about doing work on the Sabbath.
While the Pharisees take a legalistic approach, Jesus favors a humanitarian approach.
Jesus answers the accusation of the Pharisees in two ways.
At first, he subordinates Sabbath observance to human needs. By doing this, Jesus puts humans above laws. It is to justify the superiority of human need that Jesus comes up with the example of David from 1 Sam 21:1-6.
Secondly, Jesus reforms the Sabbath law through his answer and thus establishes his authority over it. Hence, Christian sabbath practice derives its authority directly from what Jesus teaches.
Jesus’ response upholds human dignity, and the perspective holds important relevance for contemporary times.
Can we ever deny the pangs of the hungry in our times or the sentencing and lynching of those caught in the theft of food?
Rule-keeping is good. But ensuring human dignity is better. Jesus does precisely that.
Sometimes our self-righteousness blinds us to thoughts about human dignity.
Let us pray we may grow in the attitude of mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar
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