The Sabbath Is Meant For Man To Honour And Serve God

1 Samuel 16:1-13
Mark 2:23-28

In today’s gospel passage, the Pharisees notice that the disciples of Jesus are making a path through the wheat field. They also notice the disciples are grinding heads of wheat in their hands. This upsets the Pharisees because according to them, the disciples of Jesus are breaking the Sabbath. There are thirty-nine ways to violate the Sabbath. The disciples are being accused of three of these violations: Reaping, Winnowing, and Threshing on Sabbath day.

Two schools of thought come to mind when it comes to interpreting the Torah. One is very strict and the other is more lenient. This is important because the Sabbath is unique to Israel; none of its neighbors have such a practice. The stricter interpretation of the Sabbath is supposed to remind Israel of God and the Act of Creation. The more lenient school of thought reminds Israel of the Exodus and God’s care for Israel. Mark’s Gospel is clear that we need to choose life. Life is never so sacred as when it is used to feed the poor, or when it is used for those in need of help. The final arbiter is the use of all things in love.

Interestingly, there is a little addendum to the disciples’ actions. They were creating a “path in the wheat field.” I don’t know the significance of this observation, but maybe it is saying that throughout all of our lives, we leave our footprint whenever or wherever we walk. Mark is telling his community only decent human beings can be good instruments of the Reign of God. Generosity and hope are the hallmarks of discipleship. Life is a choice between law or life, not a choice between good and evil.

Fr Joseph Osho