Greetings on this the Saturday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 COR 4:6b-15; PS 145:17-18, 19-20, 21; LK 6:1-5
Late
I forgot to send yesterday! I got busy preparing for the A.T.
By All Worldly Accounts
Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a gentle spirit? (1 COR 4:21). [So that] we work together for your joy, for you stand firm in the faith.(2 COR 1:24b).
We are fools. Saint Paul describes the foolish mission and the miserable conditions of the Apostles in his letter to the Corinthians. He describes the conditions not as a situation to be avoided but a rich reward for advancing the Kingdom.
We are fools, fools for love’s sake.
Summary
In today’s gospel portion, Jesus had to remind those complaining about the disciples gleaning a handful of grain a set of important things.
- The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath (and I permit this eating).
- Eating on the sabbath is lawful (this action of the disciples is not unlawful).
- David and his companions, were hungry, and how he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it (loving those in need, is higher importance than law (this WAS unlawful) – which can be set aside for the needs of the children).
Reflection
Understanding nuance of love and law is sometimes quite easy to understand and at other times quite difficult. It almost is foolish to have a law and then excuse it under a particular circumstance as this would take wisdom we don’t possess. He didn’t really focus on the factual misinterpretation they had of the law but rather on the Lordship of Love in response to the need.
- Disciples broke no law.
- David broke the law under duress.
- Jesus excuses both as he is Lord of the sabbath and his priority is the children as children.
Personal Reflection
Sometimes we focus on the wrong emphasis. Jesus reminds me to focus on the important things. Love the Lord and neighbor as yourself. Then the law will have its right balance in my heart. Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss (PS 85:11).
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090724.cfm
First Reading
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world’s rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment.
Responsorial
The Lord is near to all who call upon him.
Gospel Acclamation
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.
Gospel
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” [note: that is not true. Gleaning a handful of grain is not harvesting it is merely enough to live for another day].
Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry