THE ISSUE OF SABBATH

January 18, 2011


D A I L Y G O S P E L

Once again we find the Pharisees focusing on the Law. When will they ever learn? When will we ever learn? One of the strategies of the devil is to deflect our focus from the things that matter into things that are incidental. In this way we make progress on the journey to nowhere in particular and he is happy. We must be aware of this tactic and negate it by knowing what is important and what is not. By focusing on the first of these we will grow closer to God – it will be hard work. The devil will even help us focus on the second because he knows it is useless to us anyway.

ALLELUIA

R: Alleluia, alleluia

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.

R: Alleluia, alleluia


Mark 2:23-28


23 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. 24 At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 26 How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. 28 That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”