Tag: bible

Teamwork

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent

communication is communion

Greetings on this the Friday of the First Week of Lent
Readings: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8; Matthew 5:20-26

Summary of Teamwork

The Prophet Ezekiel captures the teamwork necessary to become righteous. Our Job: Cast away your sins and create for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. The Lord’s Job: I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit. It is the mystery of the divine logic. We must choose right living, work for right living and be right living even as the Lord provides the divine aid to choose right living, work for right living and be right living.

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 18:31).

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).

Reflection on the Psalm

Again the Psalmist brings us clarity of the issue, teamwork: If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? To which we must find trust. I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption (PS 130:5, 7).

Change is a team effort

Jesus puts the question to its very core. Half-truth v truth. You have heard that it was said to your ancestors (incomplete)… But I say to you (complete). The list below is dealt with in the conclusion of the teaching of Jesus: going to court – i.e., judgment. So his teaching has two levels: (a) the effects of our errors and (b) the shared responsibility of our errors.

The ‘a’

  1. whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment (i.e., shunning).
  2. whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin (i.e., law).
  3. whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna (i.e., hell).

The ‘b’

In a plot twist much like the Jonah story of Wednesday, Jesus gives us the the truth of our blindness and guilt even as we accursed another (the ‘b’).

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny (Mt 5:23-26)”.

Who is guiltless before the Lord? Nobody. Who should we be merciful to? Everyone.

Prescription

The Lord’s Work

  • Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication (PS 130: 2).
  • But with you is forgiveness (PS 130: 4).
  • I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word (PS 130: 5).
  • For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption (PS 130: 7).

My Work

  • Let my ears be attentive to the supplication of others.
  • Let me be forgiving.
  • Let me learn to trust people again.
  • Let me be kind and help restore proper order among men.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031425.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Lent Reflection: Acting on Jesus’ Commandments

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic, Lent
The Law of the Lord

Greetings on this the Monday of the First Week of Lent
Readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15; Matthew 25:31-46

Summary

In today’s gospel portion we encounter an excellent and poor response to the needs of others. The consequences are significant, both for the person in need and those who act or fail to act.

Good Samaritan – Eyes that can see

Response A to the question: When did we see you?

Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs? (Matt 25:44).

What is blocking your eyesight?

Response B to the question: When did we see you?

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you? (Matt 25:37-39).

Which was the Righteous response, A or B?

Perhaps you see no difference with your eyes?

The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye (PS 19:9b).

The answer is B. Why?, just from this we can make that guess?

Their answer contains resolutions, solutions and action.

Hungry -> Feed.
Thirsty -> Drink.
Stranger -> Welcome.
Naked -> Clothe.
Ill -> Visit.
Prison -> Visit.

Response A is unrighteous. It is a short summary of needs and only a vague reference to the action of ‘minister’ to your needs, whatever that may mean. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like (Jas 1:23-24).

Reflection

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another.

Personal Reflection

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy (LV 19:1-2).

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does (Jas 1:22-25).

Today’s Goal

  • Let me be a doer of the word. Let me not forget what I look like and what the needs of others are – and just walk away!
  • Rather embrace the persons in their true needs. You don’t see the need if you cannot imagine a solution you can provide.
  • Pick an item from the list to try and do today:
    • Hungry -> Feed.
    • Thirsty -> Drink.
    • Stranger -> Welcome.
    • Naked -> Clothe.
    • Ill -> Visit.
    • Prison -> Visit.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031025.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

How Pope Francis Inspires Compassion in Times of Crisis

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Chair of Saint Peter

Greetings on this the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle
Readings: 1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6; Matthew 16:13-19

Chair of Saint Peter

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Our Shared Responsibility

Peter as head of Church has a job to do. He is to be the foundation on which to build the kingdom on the ‘territory’ of the netherworld. He/we/us are to bind the wounds and loosen the fetters. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners (Lk 5:32). It is Christ, the Son of the living God, who is the master builder.

We are in the midst of contested territory. The hearts and souls of humanity. Wounded, chained in a sort of prison. This will not stand. We call out to hear one another to find each other. We dedicate our life to the restoration of this chosen race, humanity.

Mode of Operation

Saint Peter in his first letter describes the mode of operation.

Tend the flock of God in your midst,
overseeing not by constraint but willingly,
as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
Do not lord it over those assigned to you,
but be examples to the flock.

The Church has no need to align with fascists and dictators. Only the poor. Stand up to Caesar. Stand up to the Emperor.

Pray for Pope Francis

Pope Francis is a person who puts the relational model ahead of all other understandings of the Church and her role to bind and loosen. So often he teaches us to step into (compassion means to enter into the passion of another) the reality of another and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fashion a freedom not even considered before – a solution not designed by men but by God.

Pope Francis came in an Age of Rage and a Season of Emotions. He counsels us to stop deciding based on our instinctive, guttural feelings but on the objective reality of the Subject. Humans are the subject of all endeavors. Objectively understanding them and in context of divine love is what loosens and binds.

Offer your compassion! Are you not or will you not be old one day? Are you not or will you not be sick one day? How can it be that we have eyes but cannot see? Or have ears but cannot hear?

In the midst

We are in the midst. Let us be first and foremost be com-Passionists.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262353/pope-francis-is-fragile-and-not-out-of-danger-say-doctors

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022225.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Understanding the Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith in God

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith.

Greetings on this the Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Mark 7:24-30

Summary

The gospel story of faith today brings into focus the inalienable right to speak with the divine and to make your requests no matter who you are and no matter what the world says about you.

The Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith.

She replied and said to him,
"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps."
Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go.
The demon has gone out of your daughter."
When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed
and the demon gone.

Story of Precedence and Faith

The story of the Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith is not necessarily easily absorbed by the modern American understanding of merit and choice. Some really struggle with honorific designation of ‘Chosen People’ or the horrifying designation as a ‘dog’. Definitely not the language of modern polite society used in the wrong context or given with denigrating purpose.

It does allow us to track the divine-human exchange by way of a particular people given particular tasks. The story of the Hebrews and Jewish people from antiquity (Abraham) to the Exodus (Moses) to the magnificent temple re-built by Herod the Great (time of Jesus). Peoples, tribes and persons bring to light the evolving story of the divine love caring for his people – and by extension – all people.

The Syrophoenician Woman brings us back further and more foundational.

We are all children of God. Our first reading (in series) has been tracking the creation story of Genesis. Today, in particular, the creation of man and woman. Bone of bone and flesh of flesh. One creation. And in our basic understanding of self – man and woman this basic fact: The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame.

Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.
She came and fell at his feet.
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,
and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

The Syrophoenician Woman exercised her foundational right to speak with the divine, make requests of the divine and to wait patiently for the divine to respond. There is NO SHAME and there is NO LAW that precludes this basic right given by the divine to reach the divine will.

Testing the Worldly Logic

He said to her, "Let the children be fed first.
For it is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She replied and said to him,
"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps."

Here we have the test of faith. Jesus is asking her… what do you believe? Do you believe the world’s designation… dog? She says, NO! And, wonderfully narrated, if we must use that name, then remember even dogs eat scrapes from the Master’s table. Brilliant!

There is NO OUTSIDER to the INSIDE of God.

Personal Reflection

The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame. We are naked before God. Period. End. There is NO SHAME in that. Rather, it is our liberation. Lord, I am naked before you, heal me as you can see what I cannot. Amen.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Understanding Theophany: Jesus and the Twelve Disciples

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic

Theophany of Jesus

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
Readings: Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24; Psalm 48:2-3ab, 3cd-4, 9, 10-11; Mark 6:7-13

Nothing to it

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
So they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

From Fear to Joy

In our first reading today, in the Letter to the Hebrews, the distinction is made between the Moses’ experiences in the great theophany of Sinai and the experience of the “The Twelve’s” theophany of Jesus Christ. Theophany is a visible manifestation to humankind of God. The fear of Sinai was of two types: Awe at the magnitude of the presence and the fear of the environment.

For Moses and his people

  1. You approached that which could be touched
  2. A blazing fire and gloomy darkness
  3. A storm and a trumpet blast
  4. A voice speaking words such that those who heard begged that no message be further addressed to them.
  5. Indeed, so fearful was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.”

It is important not to prescribe a difference in the people. People are people. We pretty much haven’t changed since Adam and Eve blamed each other for sin. So it isn’t a quality of us that is different. It is the delivery of the message. The message is the same: God Saves. God is present. God loves. The closeness, the voice and the tenderness are the changes. Moses was facing a desert wasteland. The Twelve faced a desert spiritual wasteland.

For those in the time of Jesus experiencing Jesus

  1. You have approached Mount Zion
  2. The city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem
  3. Countless angels in festal gathering
  4. The assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven
  5. God the judge of all
  6. The spirits of the just made perfect
  7. and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled Blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Jesus Summons and Dispatches

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits. The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Miracles Abound

Moses, Aaron and the people were saved by the Lord. Jesus all the more.

Jesus sent them out two by two to change the world. Free people from demons, heal their illness and share the divine joy to all they encounter. And all they had was a tunic, walking stick and sandals.

And what they had most of all was Jesus.

Now that’s trust.

Trust brings forgiveness

From fear to forgiveness

Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross, Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

From the Franciscan Writing on the Japanese Martyrs: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-paul-miki-and-companions/

Conclusion

Trust Jesus to get you through the desert of spiritual dryness. You don’t need a lot and you are empowered to heal and forgive.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020625.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Understanding Jesus’ Healings: Chains to Freedom

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic

Chains and Shackles

Greetings on this the Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 11:32-40; Psalm 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24; Mark 5:1-20

Summary

Sometimes the acts of Jesus result in the fear of Jesus. The healing of the Gerasene Demonic is an example. Understanding the actions of God take time and reflection to reveal the fullness of the blessing provided. We re tempted to think the chains and shackles are the better option.

The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac – Fear

And they were seized with fear.
Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened
to the possessed man and to the swine.
Then they began to beg him to leave their district.

The man healed – who none could approach – was restored to his right mind and body. Their fear was two fold. The miracle was beyond their expectations of what is possible. They lost a herd of about two thousand swine into which the demons entered and drove off the cliff.

Witness of the Healing Love of God

But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead,
“Go home to your family and announce to them
all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.”
Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis
what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

The man told his story. A story from oppression and possession to liberation. The people began to understand that commerce (2,000 head of swine is a lot of valuable livestock) is nothing in comparison to the state of one human soul. The healed man was told to announce the good news.

The Healing of a Deaf Man – Acceptance

(Sometime later…) Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him (Mk 7:31-32). In this case the healed deaf man was told to not tell the story.

Reflection

The difference between the first and second visit of Jesus to the region is very significant. The first healing brought fear and a certain amount of loss. Yet the reflection upon the events and the miracle given the single man became a realization of a blessing to the entire region. One they wished to share at the next opportunity.

  • Pigs are not as important as people. Not a comment to be taken to extremes, please!
  • Witness is the first step in discernment.
  • Nothing we possess is as important as the people in our lives.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020325.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

The Age of Knowledge: Trusting God’s Design

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Uncategorized

We sow what we do not know how

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
Readings: Hebrews 10:32-39; Psalm 37:3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40; Mark 4:26-34

Summary

Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

Information Age

We live in the Information Age. Maybe that title is outdated now. The Internet Age? Even that title is too tame. Age of Discovery? Nah, already used previously. Maybe let us call these current times: the Age of Knowledge.

Of all the things that can be known, we know. A click and a search. Even more, with AI assisting, discover vectors, correlations and causation not previously known. Scientifically it is known as the Anthropocene Age (human domination), alternatively geologically called, Cenozoic (“new life”) era. But wanting to know and knowing are not the same. Sometimes we jut have to accept: he knows not how.

We want to know – Now!

This knowledge appetite is insatiable. We pour billions into the sciences and arts to discover the next thing and the next. Of itself it is fine and good. Of only itself it is a disaster. Lost in all this impulse and discovery is the person and person-hood.

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 COR 1:22-25).

Trusting by design

Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.

We trust the seed will grow. We know, without knowing how, that things will order themselves aright. We have faith in the natural environment we are born into and a we are a part of naturally.

Faith in the person of God

By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm,
and he approves his way.
Though he fall, he does not lie prostrate,
for the hand of the LORD sustains him.

We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.

The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/013125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Understanding the Danger of Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Love sacrifice

Greetings on this the Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Hebrews 9:15, 24-28; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6; Mark 3:22-30

Accusation

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan?

Judgment

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Heart Set on Evil

It wasn’t enough to see Jesus heal Simon’s Mother-In-Law, cleanse a leper, heal the paralytic, cure a withered hands, and all manner of diseases for many people. They hated Jesus for that.

In the gospel of Mark the FIRST miracle is the cure of the demonic – Mark 1:21f. Among the other healings early in his ministry he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him (Mk 1:34).

Both times telling the demons not to testify to who he was.

They hated Jesus for that, too. For worst of all reasons. Not because they can’t see with their own eyes the good he is doing but because Jesus interferes with their evil plans.

Ah! Those who call evil good, and good evil, who change darkness to light, and light into darkness, who change bitter to sweet, and sweet into bitter! (Isa 5:20).

And Again

For the fool speaks folly, his heart plans evil: Godless actions, perverse speech against the LORD, Letting the hungry go empty and the thirsty without drink. The deceits of the deceiver are evil, he plans devious schemes: To ruin the poor with lies, and the needy when they plead their case. (Isa 32:6-7).

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

Is a persistent rejection of truth and in particular the rejection of truth with the intention of advancing evil schemes. Is is no wonder that the witness evidence from Isaiah says it all cited above Isa 32:6-7.

Putting (fill in the blank) First

What you put FIRST will be what is remembered in the LAST.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012725.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Embrace God’s Reconciliation Today

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Uncategorized

Be Reconciled

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Readings: Hebrews 8:6-13; Psalm 85:8, 10, 11-12, 13-14; Mark 3:13-19

Summons and Reconcile

God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

and again…

Summons

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He wants us to participate in the sharing of divine mercy.

Reconcile

  • God reconciles.
  • God calls us to reconcile and share the Good News.
  • God calls us to benefit from the Good News.

Reflection

Brothers and sisters: Now our high priest has obtained so much more excellent a ministry as he is mediator of a better covenant, enacted on better promises.

Psalmist Describes in poetry the Promises of the Lord through this High Priest Jesus

Show us, O LORD, your mercy,
and grant us your salvation.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and salvation, along the way of his steps.

Jesus Summons

  • He summons men and women to share the message of reconciliation the best example are the Apostles.
  • He summons men and women to benefit from the saving graces of God the best example is the conversion from evil to good..

AI Overview – search was for ‘define summons theology’

The Theology of God’s Providence – Marvin Williams
Summons theology is the idea that God calls people to live in obedience, love, and service. It’s also known as the divine summons, a call to holiness, and a call to joy and peace.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012425.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry

Understanding the Meaning of the Sabbath

by Gerry Palermo, posted in Catholic
Making a path, rubbing grain to live

Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
Readings: Hebrews 6:10-20; Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c; Mark 2:23-28

Picky, Picky, Picky

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.

Path and Grain

They made a path while picking the heads of grain. This phraseology is unique to the gospel of Mark even as the story is common between the three Synoptic gospels).

Jesus said of David, David was in need and he and his companions were hungry. Although the Show Bread should only to be consumed by the priests (who lawfully eat), he nevertheless shared it with his companions.

And Jesus didn’t have a problem with it.

Sabbath Chains or Sabbath Freedom

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.

It is clear this story is as much active today as in the time of Jesus.

In what ways have we turned the Sabbath, the Temple and the Worship into chains of oppression? We do it otherwise the story would not be in sacred scripture.

The disciples picked a path and the grain (in moderation and for good purpose) in a like way to David. And they were justified.

AI Overview – search was “theology unlawful and valid”

I love AI – amazing stuff. The problem the gospel story is expressing is the problem of understanding lawful and unlawful with valid and invalid.

In theology, particularly within the Catholic tradition, “unlawful” and “valid” are distinct concepts, meaning an action can be considered “valid” (producing the intended effect) even if it is performed in an “unlawful” or “illicit” manner, meaning it was done outside of the proper procedures or by an unauthorized person; essentially, the act itself is considered to have taken place, but it may not have been done correctly according to the established rules.

It’s time again to realign our lawful and valid concepts with proper intentions: Sabbath rest.

Caveats

The entirety of the observation is in regards to the rest of the Sabbath. REST. REFRESHMENT. CARE. SAVING BALM. It is not merely a memorial of the creative acts of God and appreciation of His benevolence. Those things are true, yes. It is the SABBATH actions of Jesus that rephrases the question. He goes beyond to describe Sabbath work: love, raising up, giving life, right judgment and honor (see study on the gospel of John here: ).

Gospel of John Outline – FinalDownload

Jesus approves this message.

Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012125.cfm

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry