2025-09-06 - The Law of Sabbath is the law of love Author: Fr. Camillus Nwaigwe
The Gospel Reading of today presents a kind of dispute that arose between Jesus and the Pharisees as to what constitutes work on a Sabbath. The disciples of Jesus were picking ears of corn, rubbing them on their hands and eating them. For the Pharisees, to crush ears of corn and eat them constitute work and it is wrong on a Sabbath. For Jesus, the Law of Sabbath is at the service of man.
Writing to the Colossians in the *First reading*, Paul reiterated that our Lord Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection, has reconciled us to God.
Friends, do you know that laws including religious laws should be at the service of man? In the Gospel, we saw Christ giving priority to human basic needs than the law when he defended his disciples. Any law that stands in the way of the wellbeing of the human person is wrong.
Another point I wish to raise here is that, while the Pharisees were bent on forbidding the disciples from doing any work on a Sabbath, Christ was proposing working on a Sabbath. But what work does Christ propose? Christ commands us to do the work of the Lord. What is the work of Lord required of us? He asks us to attend to both the spiritual and physical needs of the people around us. Like the Good Samaritan, we must not shut our eyes to those who are in need under the pretense of avoiding working on a Sabbath. We can work for the Lord even on a Sabbath.
Jesus proves that He is the Lord and Master of the Sabbath and of every Law. Today, he manifested divine love of God for humanity. This is what we are called to do. Do not overburden people with the Law. The law that should rule over us is that of love.
Finally, the Lord always comes to our rescue. We have a God who is always in the business of defending His own. Jesus today defended his disciples against the attacks of the Pharisees. We may go through some trials and troubles, let us not forget that our Lord will always protect, defend and strengthen us.
Prune me of all hypocrisy oh Lord, that I may serve you with sincerity of heart, amen.
0 Comments
Leave a Comment
Fill the form below to leave a comment