THE WORD
Is 38,1-6.21-22.7-8 / Mt 12,1-8
At that time Jesus was going through a eld of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them,
“Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacri ce,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
IN OTHER WORDS
In today’s gospel, the disciples of Jesus were accused of breaking the law of the sabbath. Because of their hunger, they were forced to pick the heads of grain and eat them while walking. Jesus defended his disciples against the Pharisees; “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,…”
The gospel today challenges us to observe the highest law, the law of love. Jesus summarized the ten commandments into two: love God and love your neighbor. Because love is the fulfillmentof the law, it is not observed without the practice of love and compassion, especially to the poor and the needy.
The law is made to guide us, to take care of the welfare of others, to protect others. The Pharisees were protecting the law but failed to protect and provide the welfare of the needy.
The more we observe the law, the more we should be loving and compassionate. That is why Jesus said: “I desire mercy not sacrifice.” Our sacrifices, prayers to God will be void if there is no love and compassion in our hearts. I remember one participant in a recollection telling me; “Father it is easy to attend mass but to forgive and be compassionate is difficult.”
Observance of the law of God should inspire us to be more loving because the real spirit of the law is to give life, to uplift life, not to destroy life. Be a life-giver by ful lling the law of love.
- Fr. Jay Francis Flandez, SVD | Hongkong
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.
