Lord of the Sabbath

Good morning sisters and brothers,
This is one episode in the continuing conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel. They criticize Jesus and his disciples for breaking the Sabbath by plucking grain. His response doesn't reject the Sabbath, but it does reject rigid rules. He also claims to be Lord of the Sabbath. Following God can never be reduced to rules or check lists. We follow in freedom and integrity.

blessings on your week,
Sam

Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” 3He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. 5Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? 6I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”