2nd Week in Ordinary Time
The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. (Mark 2:27)
When children are young, it seems as if their lives are hemmed in by rules: look both ways before crossing the street. Share your toys. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom. Parents know that rules like these will help their children grow into maturity. The rules are there to protect them as they learn to make right decisions. As their children mature, parents will offer reasons and explanations for these rules. Then, finally, comes the time when children are able to make their own decisions based on the good habits they formed in childhood.
Like rules for a young child, the sabbath guidelines that Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel were meant to help God’s people make a habit of choosing God’s ways. They were meant to instill the practice of prayer and rest into the rhythm of life. Obeying the Law in itself wasn’t the goal. Staying close to God was the goal—loving him and giving him time and space in their lives.
This is just as true for us as it was for ancient Israel. God did not create us to slavishly observe sabbath law. He created the Sabbath to help us grow into mature believers who live to worship him and follow his law of love.
At their best, human laws are meant to help us think as God thinks. But not all human laws do that. That’s why it is so vital that we pray for just laws that will protect the vulnerable—especially unborn children. We know that society needs to protect these little ones, but it rarely does. Laws are supposed to support us in doing what’s right. So it’s important that the laws of our society reinforce that purpose. And when they don’t, it’s important that we pray and work for changes in the law that will help our society grow in justice and compassion.
Let’s pray today that our officials will enact just laws that protect the vulnerable. Let’s pray that each one of us grows in our ability to care for the innocent and defenseless. Let’s do what we can to safeguard the least among us.
“Jesus, thank you that you want us to grow to mature Christian love. Help me learn to live according to your law of love.”
Hebrews 6:10-20
Psalm 111:1-2, 4-5, 9-10
