Reflection for February 20
Mark 2:23 – 3:6
One sabbath he was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.’ Then he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Reflection: Terry Ressler
What is the priority? This is the question Jesus asks, and he provides the answer through his words and actions.
The Pharisees claim the Sabbath is for prayer and reflection—not for “work” like healing—and they want to set Jesus up for failure; but he is defiant. “He was grieved at their hardness of heart,” and he wanted to prove a point.
He takes care of the needs of his people, even though the law says people should be observing the sabbath, not tending to worldly cares. Jesus wants us to rise above the rules and laws that prevent us from doing what is right. He prioritizes the people in his care over the rules, and he heals them.
Many of the parables in the bible are sort of confusing, but in this story, Jesus is clear about what he means. I’ve always admired Jesus in this story; it inspires a level of respect for Jesus that I don’t get from other stories.
His actions epitomize his teachings because he demonstrates that humankind is the priority. And when he says, “the sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath,” he is elevating us and putting us in charge. He is saying rules and laws should benefit people, not weigh them down unnecessarily.
I think Jesus is empowering us when he says “The son of man is lord, even of the sabbath.” His words inspire us to have courage, to forge a new path, to think differently, to do what we think is right. This story about Jesus reminds me of the people who fight for civil rights, for equality, for prison reform, and against oppression, and how they try to ensure that the law must be made for humankind, and not humankind for the law.
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