THE WORD

1Sm 16, 1-13/Mk 2, 23-28

As he 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 off ering 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.”

IN OTHER WORDS

Conflicts many times occur in our lives and relationships because of our fanaticism or our incapacity to see the whole situation. They happen because we are unable to put ourselves into the situation of the other. The Pharisees in our gospel today were in conflict with the disciples of Jesus who were working in the field during the Sabbath to satisfy their hunger and need. For them- the Pharisees- the Sabbath was made not for human beings but that human beings were made for the Sabbath. With this belief, they started to criticize, judge, and create conflict with Jesus and his disciples.

How do we overcome conflict from the perspective of the gospel?

Conflicts are overcome by living the truth. The truth on the Sabbath is for all to have a time to praise and honor God and to promote service and life to those who are in need. Living this truth of the Sabbath in this manner helps us to establish harmony in life and good relationships. To resolve conflict then is to search, see and, with humility, believe in the whole truth not only in our own beliefs and convictions. God’s truth goes beyond our own understanding and mindset. Openness, flexibility and willingness to be enriched by the other are necessary for overpowering conflicts.

Second, conflicts are overcome from the perspective of the gospel when, in living the spirit of the Sabbath, our faith in the Lord starts. The law on the Sabbath need not be an end in itself but a point of departure from which one can look for the good of the other and the community. In a word the spirit of the Sabbath invites us to be more tolerant, open, respectful and patient with the needs and weaknesses of our brothers and sisters. Living the true spirit of the Sabbath is making the life of the people in our community as our priority. It is recognizing God’s presence not only by fulfilling His commandments but also by seeing and believing in God’s sanctuary in the hopes, dreams, joys and pains of the people we encounter. It is through this way that conflicts are conquered.

May our faith in the Lord bridge conflicts and built smooth relationships. Pope Francis once said, when faith in the Lord leads us “to think well, feel well and act well” conflicts do not thrive in our community.

Finally conflicts are overcome when mercy, compassion and service are the ends and goals of living the Sabbath. We may have diff erent beliefs and mindsets but such differences enrich and unify when mercy, compassion and unconditional service are lived and extended to the people and the community we live in. Observing the true spirit of the Sabbath creates in us a disposition to focus more on seeing, feeling and acting on the joys and tears of the people around us. Merciful and compassionate attitudes eliminate possible con icts in our relationships with God and others, for the focus is not so much on our belief as on responding to the needs and suff erings of the people we encounter and live with.

• Fr. Robert Ibay, SVD | Divine Word College of Vigan

The Word in other words 2016

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

	Production : Fr. Carlos Maria de Guzman, Jr., SVD and Staff of Logos Publications
	Cover Design : Malou E. Domingo
	Liturgical Calendar : Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD
	Production Consultant : Fr. Gerardo del Pinado, SVD
	Scriptural Texts : New American Bible and Daily Roman Missal
	Cover artwork based on photos by Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD
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