Word to the Wise
Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - Tuesday in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Sam 16:1-13 and Mark 2:23-28]TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2018. TUESDAY IN THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [1 Samuel 16:1-13 and Mark 2:23-28] "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath." [Mark] Jesus keeps digging deeper into the most important values of Jewish faith. This is part of the agenda of the Gospel According to Mark and creates a growing tension. But the particular value that is challenged in todays' passage seems to be a matter of divine decree. We know it as the third of the Ten Commandments: "Remember to keep holy the Lord's day." The question was important in Jesus' day and it is important in ours. I can recall debates about what constitutes "servile work," which was considered taboo on Sunday. In the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus places fundamental human needs ahead of sabbath observance. One must eat. The challenge is not as stark in our time as it might have been in Jesus' time, but it is still there. How DO we observe the sabbath other than going to Mass? Is that the only "hour" we have in the week for God? Is there something we could do that would be more intentional and would mark the DAY as important and not just the hour? Maybe feeding the hungry at a soup kitchen? Neither Jesus nor the Pharisees took the sabbath for granted. Nor should we. AMEN
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