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Gospel: Matthew 12: 1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Some say America’s legal system has a few backward laws that need to be changed – in particular, laws that restrict work and commerce on Sundays.
For example, in New Jersey it’s illegal to purchase a car on Sunday. In Massachusetts, it’s illegal to hunt. In many states, it’s illegal to purchase alcohol before noon.
These laws are known as “blue laws,” which were intended to protect the Sabbath, allowing Americans to rest and to worship on Sundays.
These days, only one-third of Americans find themselves in a church pew. Others are too busy attending sports games, running errands, cleaning the house, or working themselves to death.
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Still, these “blue laws” remind us of the importance of rest, and above all, of worship.
This is why the Pharisees are angry in today’s Gospel. They interpret the disciples’ actions of pulling grain as contrary to the Sabbath – much like violating a “blue law.”
On the Sabbath, people are only allowed to rest and to worship.
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Perhaps there’s still a word in that for us today.
Many of us lead busy lives – so busy that we can neglect our time with the Lord.
It’s why I post my “God minute” daily; not only remind myself to pray, but also to encourage others to do the same.
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While “blue laws” may go out of style, our need to rest and worship never will.
So, when the sun rises on Sunday morning, where will you be?
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Image credits: (1) Redeeming God (2) The New Yorker (3) Rev’s Random Ramblings