“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” – Luke 6:2

       You know what makes imposing a rule or a law foolish? First, when the law itself is already ridiculous that it no longer serves its real intent and purpose. And second, when those who make or implement the law are the first ones to break them.

       That’s why the Bible says, “The Sabbath (law) is made for man and not man for the Sabbath (law).” It’s not to encourage lawlessness or subjectivity. It’s just that a law, in its truest spirit and purest form, should be made to protect and promote the general welfare of man, and not the other way around. Jesus was indeed the Master of bringing out man’s foolishness in interpreting or implementing the law. “If any one of you had a child or an ox that happened to fall in a well on a Sabbath, would you not pull it out at once on the Sabbath itself?”

       Above all, Jesus is the ultimate authority of the Law because not only is He “The Law,” He also follows and and obeys it.       To all lawmakers and law implementers in government, church, community or any organization: Please make laws that truly save and give life, encourage and empower. Please be our first models of obeying them. And please don’t make being lawful look so awful! Alvin Barcelona (apb_ayo@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What rules have you imposed on others that may not be helping or loving them but simply allow you to control them? Loosen up on those rules, for others and for yourself.

Dear Lord, help me to follow Your laws which are all based on love. Help me use rules and laws on others only to love them more. Amen.

Blessed Claudio Granzotto, pray for us.

Paul admits that the life of an Apostle is not necessarily easy or filled with honor. There are many who will reject the Gospel when they hear it. This is not our problem but theirs and God’s. We have fulfilled our responsibility when we live and proclaim the Gospel. We cannot force anyone to accept it. Paul is tireless in the way he sets out to proclaim the Gospel. He will not be found wanting in this respect. Let us pray for the grace to follow his example.

6 Brothers and sisters: Learn from myself and Apollos not to go beyond what is written, so that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over against another. 7 Who confers distinction upon you? What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it? 8 You are already satisfied; you have already grown rich; you have become kings without us! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we also might become kings with you. 9 For as I see it, God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and men alike. 10 We are fools on Christ’s account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless 12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world’s rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment. 14 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15 Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

R: The Lord is near to all who call upon him.

17 The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. (R) 19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, he hears their cry and saves them. (R) 20 The Lord keeps all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (R) 21 May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord, and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. (R)

It is important that we use our common sense and discernment in order to realize that there are some laws that are far more significant than others. This is not to say that we should ever dismiss a law as being insignificant or worthless, but that we choose to pursue those things that will make the greater difference and are of greater importance.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father except through me.

1 While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 2 Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” 3 Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? 4 How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions.” 5 Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”

think:  It is important that we use our common sense and discernment in order to realize that there are some laws that are far more significant than others.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 61-65

LORD OF THE SABBATH

Legalism is like a straightjacket that does not allow one to move the way he wants to move. Legalism means sticking to the letter of the law and forgetting its spirit, especially the law of love which surpasses all other laws.

       I remember last year’s Holy Thursday. Pope Francis broke a long tradition and did not celebrate the Mass of the Last Supper in St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, he went to a youth detention center in Rome and celebrated the memorial of the institution of the Eucharist with young prisoners. He even washed the feet of 12 prisoners, among them two Muslims. But what caused the worst uproar was when he washed the feet of two girls.

       Traditionally, the feet of 12 men are washed, representing the 12 Apostles who were all male. But more important than the gender is the symbolic message or spirit of the ritual. That is what Jesus wanted to demonstrate: serve each other, whether that “other” is male or female, healthy or sick, young or old. Pope Francis had understood this, but legalistic Catholics questioned his action, like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel.

       Laws are necessary in any community and society. Because of human weakness and self-centeredness, chaos would result if there are no laws. Everybody would do what they want to do. But to stick to a law, by hook or by crook, can be deadly and even contradict the spirit of the law.

       An elderly lady once told me: “Last Sunday, the young mother who lives with me asked me to take care of her baby because she had to go out and find money and then buy medicine for the infant. But since it was Sunday and there was only one Mass in our chapel, I said no and went to Mass.”

       That she was faithful to the Sunday obligation is surely laudable, but it would have pleased God more if she gave money to the mother or took care of the baby while the mother went to get money and buy medicine.

       We keep the commandments of God and the laws of the Church as much as possible, but I hope we don’t act like the Pharisees. I hope we keep the spirit of the greatest law — that of loving God and neighbor. Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

REFLECTION QUESTION: What would you do if you were in the shoes of the elderly lady?

Lord, it is often easier to hide behind a law than to reach out and do something for another person. Please make me always aware that reaching out and helping others is more important than keeping laws.