Reflection for September 6 Saturday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 6:1-5

Gospel: Luke 6:1-5

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”  

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.”

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Reflection:

What kind of God is Jesus? He is a loving and caring God. He will always ensure that His people are cared for, no matter the circumstances. For Jesus, the needs of His people always take precedence over the observance of laws and traditions. 

When Jesus defended His disciples from the rebuke of the Pharisees (for picking and eating grain on a Sabbath day), He was showing that the needs of His disciples take precedence over any observance of the Jewish laws. 

In doing this, Jesus was teaching His critics—and us—that there are moments when we must be flexible for the sake of love and compassion. The disciples were hungry, and that was enough reason for Jesus to permit them to satisfy their basic human need. 

Here we discover the heart of Jesus: He faithfully takes care of His people. He is even willing to set aside the sacred Sabbath law when a valid need arises, for His love is always greater than mere ritual. We may not always be faithful to Him, yet His unconditional love, care, and concern remain with us in every season of our lives. 

This is the God we serve—a God who chooses mercy over sacrifice, compassion over legalism, and love over ritual. Knowing this, how do you respond to Jesus who never fails to put your deepest needs above all else? — Marino J. Dasmarinas