Thoughts for the Day

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.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The sixteen Chapters in Mark's Gospel cover the three years of Jesus' life from the start of his ministry until his death . As we have seen his ministry moves at a fast pace through Chapter One until he has gathered a large following of people, especially after they see the way he heals those who are sick. But by the start of Chapter Two opposition begins to accelerate. The scribes initially object to his words of forgiveness to a paralysed man, and then when he accepts Levi (Matthew) the tax-collector as a disciple and joins other sinners for a meal, the Pharisees join the opposition.

Strict Jews would do no work on the Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), and in order not to break the Law of Moses constructed thousands of oral laws to avoid this. There were thirty odd categories for work alone! Passers-by were allowed to pluck an ear or two of corn, but was it really work? Well, to their minds, and to an orthodox Jew today (who won't turn on a light switch on the Sabbath), it was work. However, Jesus cites the case of David who was running from King Saul who sought to kill him, and who ate the bread offered to God in front of the Holy of Holies (Exodus 25.23-30). This bread was usually replaced with fresh bread each week, and the old bread was eaten by the priests!

The point is that the Sabbath is much more than a series of rules and regulations designed to turn the day into a Victorian day of doom, gloom, and boredom. Many of us have to work on our Sabbath, that is on Sunday. But we still need a Sabbath, even if we designate it another day. We need to make time in our heads and in our diaries for God, and for our family, and also for own refreshment. And if it's not on the computer, the phone, or a paper diary it probably won't happen. God wants us to rest folks and be refreshed and, turn to Him!

Lord of the Sabbath,
help us to find time for You
in our busy days,
and to take quality time off
for our loved ones and our friends,
and ourselves.
Help us not to be selfish
with our time
but to give generously to those
around us,
and always to give You
pride of place,
rather than a minute or two
at the end of the day.
Amen.