+ Today we have a very important gospel passage at mass. In it
Jesus in effect places himself “above the law” – once and for all times. He in
this way reverses the understanding of what pleases God on his day and what
does not.
Now, does Jesus really place
himself “above the law” – or is he not clarifying what is lawful and what is
not – replacing what was a temporary stop-gap measure, with what will be
lasting and unchangeable from now on. Mosaic Law was given so that the newly formed
People of God – could know they were pleasing him – because the definitive Law
was not yet born, another manifestation of law that was much more personal,
much more real, much more pleasing both to God and to men – and that would be
Jesus himself.
Jesus – being God’s Son, and
Man’s Son as well – had every qualification and authority to redefine and reset
a proper understanding of the Law of God – for he was law-made-flesh! What
pleases God, Jesus is trying to get across here, that mercy – treating other
people as you would want to be treated – treating them with compassion, empathy
and overflowing generosity – pleases God much more than any lesser show breads
or burnt offerings or long boring services. What God is pleased with is using
common sense and worshipping in spirit and in truth – the one unbloody
representation of the bloody reconciliatory act of his Son on our behalf.
So, yes, Jesus declares
himself Lord of the Sabbath – and encourages right worship and common-sense
treatment of not only our fellow men and women and children, but also the
animals, birds, fishes of the sea and all the rest of creation. For Jesus is
Lord, King and Savior of the entire universe – and all the universes beyond
this one!
Amen.
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