7/21/2023 (Friday) Today’s gospel reading: Matthew 12:1-8

1 Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
3 He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,
4 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?
5 Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent?
6 I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
7 If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

7/21/2023 (Friday) Today’s gospel reflection: Matthew 12:1-8

We continue to explore the theme of justice and freedom. In the gospel reading above, we can say that Jesus is really a true advocate of liberation from oppression. We see how the Pharisees has made use of the laws of Moses as a form of “heavy burden” on the part of the people whereas Jesus has come to give a “light yoke” to the heavily-burdened. Make no mistake. The Sabbath should be spent worshipping the Creator of heaven and earth. Yet, the “little ones” are many times hungry and they need to work even on Sundays and other days of obligation. These littles ones have a special place in the heart of Jesus. The laws are made to serve them, not to oppress them.

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The confrontation of Jesus and His opponents is coming to a boil. It is Sabbath and the religious people who consider this day very sacred saw something to pin Jesus down.

The disciples were hungry so Jesus allowed them to pick up grain and eat. It did not matter that it was Sunday afternoon perhaps. To be with Jesus is like being in a wedding (Matthew 9:15). There should be no hunger. However, the nosy Pharisees found their “Aha” moment to make a case against Him.

As they say, you cannot put a good man down. Jesus was not an ordinary human teacher or rabbi. He is God. He knows what is best in every situation and He can read what is in the heart and mind of people. He can also turn a bad situation into an opportunity to do good. In this case, Jesus took the opportunity to teach or give a message.

The Pharisees were just being too religious perhaps to a fault. To them law is law. You either follow the law or you are condemned. There is no place for mercy. Jesus, on the other hand, is focused on love, mercy, and compassion. In the gospel reading above, He is giving us the message to serve people and not condemn them especially if they are hungry.

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