16 January, 2024 | Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading : 1 Sm 16:1-13

Gospel Mk 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,

his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.

At this the Pharisees said to him,

“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

He said to them,

“Have you never read what David did

when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest

and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,

and shared it with his companions?”

Then he said to them,

“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

Reflections:

In today's gospel Jesus demonstrates that there are circumstances where the strict observance of rules may need to yield to acts of mercy and compassion. Jesus prioritizes human need and well-being over rigid legalistic interpretations. These passages invite personal reflection on the importance of context, the purpose of religious practices, the authority of Jesus, and the need for balance in our spiritual lives. Jesus concludes his response by asserting that he, as the Son of Man, is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Activity: 

Examine your own understanding and application of religious rules and traditions, ensuring they align with the heart of God and promote love, mercy, and compassion towards others.