Thoughts for the Day

One sabbath while Jesus was going through the cornfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. But some of the Pharisees said, 'Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?'

Jesus answered, 'Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?'

Then he said to them, 'The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.'

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Years ago I ran a Seder (Passover meal) for Christians in Hartlebury Castle for 70 people, with the help of the British Board of Jews. It was a wonderful night, and a plus was getting to know their Director of Edication, and to be able to find out more about Judaism.

My opposite number dashed back to London after a planning session, to celebrate Shabat (the Sabbath) which starts at sunset on a Friday. He was a strict Jew, and I knew he had to obey the laws concerning work. He explained some of the ways he coped, for example, putting in timers to turn on lights. I marvelled that putting on a light switch was deemed to be work.

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus is confronted by some Pharisees who feel that his disciples should not be plucking grain, for according to their interpretation of scripture it was work. There are many thoughts about this passage, but we can say that Jesus says 'The Son of Man is the lord of the sabbath.'

He is saying that we should bring an open mind to the bible, to learn God's will, not to prove a text. When we are open and need God's help (as at this time of a pandemic), then it will be the greatest book in the world as God speaks to us and we are actually listening.

Saturday 5th September, follow up thoughts

Lord Jesus,
when we read our bible,
help us not to use the words
to prove what we want hear,
but to listen to what
You are actually saying to us.
Amen.