Reflection for Friday, 15th Week of Ordinary Time

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Today's WORD of GOD 

Matthew 12: 1- 8 

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent?  I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.

If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 

Today's Reflection 

Adherence to the Rules is Important but Not at the Cost of Neglecting the Need of the Other.

This Shallow Religion is Seen in the Pharisees. The Hungry Disciples of JESUS Pluck Grain & Eat on a Sabbath Day. The Pharisees Vehemently Blame Them for Breaking the Sabbath. 

How Narrow-Minded & Perverted They Were! They Do Not Bother about the Hunger of Their Fellow Humans; rather They Over-Bother about the Law. 

They Forget the Fact that Human Well-Being is More Important than the Mere Keeping of the Law. 

Sabbath or Any Religious Law is Meant for Devotion to GOD & to Nurture the Spirit of Human Concern. 

We See an Instance of This in the 1st Reading from Isaiah, as We Come Across One of Israel’s Most Prayerful King. 

Once He was Threatened by the King of Assyria, He Took the Letter & Went into the Temple to Pray. 

That Night an Entire Army of Soldiers were Struck Down. Hezekiah Defeated Without Raising a Single Sword. 

Hezekiah is Sick. GOD Sends Isaiah to Tell Him to Put His House in Order but Hezekiah Trusting in GOD'S Mercy Turned to the Wall & Prayed Again. Hezekiah Wept Bitterly. GOD Heard Him & Added fifteen Years to His Life.

GOD Expects the Same From Us. The Rigidity of Our Religious Observances must be Tempered by the Tenderness of Mercy.

The Value of Our Religious Duties & Devotions is Seen in the Concrete Acts of Fraternity & Charity. 

Laws & Rules are Good & Needed because They Bring Discipline, & Order & Thus Contribute to Responsibility & the Common Good. 

No Law is Good if It Goes Against the Good of the Other. No Other Law is Greater than the Supreme Law of Charity. 

At Times We are Becoming Legalistic & Rigid, Neglecting & Failing in Concern & Charity.

Indeed, if U & I are Still Breathing, Know that It is the Mercy of GOD Keeping Us Alive.

Why is GOD so Merciful? To Give Us an Opportunity to Repent. If GOD is so Merciful to Us, We should Not Be Quick to Pass Judgement on Others.

Let Us Be Law-Abiding Citizens & Faithful, Submitting Ourselves to the Supreme Law of Charity.

Good Morning

God bless you and your families

Have a blessed Friday.

May God protect you from all danger of both Physical and Spiritual.