RBWords

     What did "these innocent men" do?  They picked grain to eat on a Sabbath.  This was considered "reaping" and was forbidden in the Mosaic Law [Deut. 23:25-26].  The Pharisees objected.  Jesus responds by calling their attention to the example of King David who "violated" the law when he had to feed himself and his soldiers, and to the example of the temple priests who had to "work" on the Sabbath in order to carry out their liturgical duties!  But the real lesson is contained in the last verse of Chapter 11 where Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden light."

 

     It is that law of mercy and compassion in the face of human need that governs the observance of the law.  Jesus is indeed Lord of the Sabbath because he is Lord of all creation, but the Pharisees had no idea of that.  What they could see and did not see because of their blind zeal is that their interpretation of the law would cause unnecessary hardship. 

 

     I know from my own pastoral experience and my legal background that the "law" in the wrong hands can do a great deal of damage.  Some misguided folks use it as a weapon of power and control.  There is no question about the necessity of "boundaries" so that there is unity and some uniformity, but the real power comes in the application of law to human circumstances.  Pope Francis has spoken of his vision of the church as a "field hospital" on a battlefield!  This is scarcely a courtroom!  All of us could benefit from Jesus' reply:  "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."  AMEN