Reflection for Tuesday January 17, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbott: Mark 2:23-28

Gospel Mark 2:23-28

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. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? 

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?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

+ + + + +  + +

Reflection:

What would be your stand if you are made to choose between the observance of the law or the lawful need of your fellowmen? Jesus gives us a clear choice, for Him it’s always the primary need of our fellowmen. As exemplified by His mention of David who violated the Sabbath to address their need to satisfy their hunger. 

Rules and laws are created to create order and to prevent chaos. But there are times that it’s disregarded for a much higher and noble purpose. If the welfare of our fellowmen are at stake their interest  must come first. This is what we must always follow and we must also not create rules to serve our own selfish ends.  

For example, in a family setting, parents would normally have rules for their children to follow. However, we should always be amenable to bend these rules no matter how stringent. We do this if there is a valid need or reason. Stringent rules can also be bent when parents want to show that they love their children more than the implementation of their house rules. 

Jesus is a compassionate God, He would not mind if we violate religious rules for so long as there is a higher and noble purpose. – Marino J. Dasmarinas