Thoughts for the Day

At that time Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.’ He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests. Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”, you would not have condemned the guiltless.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

While in the WRAF in 1964 I travelled with some friends by car to Anglesey for a short break. Arriving on Sunday afternoon, we were all shocked to find that there were no shops, pubs, or petrol stations open. There was absolutely nothing open - well the churches were! Even then in England we were accustomed to more ordinary life continuing on a Sunday, but the devout Welsh Chapel-goers were still obeying the command to "Honour the sabbath."

The Pharisees are those who police every rule of the Law of Moses, particularly on the question of the Sabbath, that is from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Reaping corn, threshing and winnowing it, and preparing food are all considered work! The disciples are hungry and may justifiably pluck ears of corn according to the Law (Deuteronomy 23.25). Jesus points out that even ritual laws must take second place to the natural law of feeding the hungry.

Today we have gone completely the opposite way. To feed the hungry and fill up the car with petrol is of first importance, and to honour God in worship has been relegated to the bottom of priorities. But this should allow us to be free to worship Him on any day and at any time. Instead of squeezing Him out of our life, might we not turn to Him in thanks and praise whenever we feel our hearts lifted by good news; by a wonderful view; by the generous action of another; or by a kiss from a loved one?

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught the Pharisees
about the Law of Moses
and that God required mercy
rather than empty ritual,
so may we realise the need
to turn to balance the
priorities in our own life,
so that worship, work and the family
are all represented in our daily life.
Amen.