Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did, when he and his men were hungry? He went into the House of God,
and they ate the bread offered to God, though neither he nor his men had the right to eat it, but only the priests.
And have you not read in the law, how, on the Sabbath, the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath,
yet they are not guilty? I tell you, there is greater than the temple here. If you really knew the meaning of the words:
It is mercy I want, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. Besides, the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
REFLECTION:
Sometimes, if we want to understand a law, we better ask the outlaw. Knowing and entering into the lives of those who
violate the law can make us realize that they may not be violating, but rather pointing to the bigger law.
When sidewalk vendors violate rules on city order, they are pointing to the greater rule of survival.
For, Jesus, a genuine enforcer of the law knows what bigger law is served by a smaller law.
Accordingly, he is capable of pursuing greater obedience (following the bigger law) over narrow obedience (following the smaller law).
Greater obedience stands closest to the lawgiver who holds the spirit and purpose of the law.
Our readings today cite David, the priests in the temple, Jesus’ disciples, and even Jesus himself violating the law of the Sabbath.
However, their violations point to a greater obedience—to the Lord of the Sabbath.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020