Reflection
In our Gospel today, Jesus continues his battle against the authority of the religious leaders of His day.
In the fourth conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities, the Pharisees seem to be on the watch. They want to accuse Jesus and his disciples of violating the Law of Moses in some way. When they see Jesus’ disciples picking heads of grain on the Sabbath and Jesus does not correct his disciples, the Pharisees think that this proves that Jesus is a false prophet. What they are ignorant of, is the original meaning and purpose of the Sabbath rest. On the one hand, it recalled the creation of the world (Exodus 20:8-11), how God rested from his work on the seventh day, and how humanity was invited to commemorate God’s work of creation weekly and share in divine rest and eternal life. On the other, the Sabbath recalled the redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The Sabbath rest, then, was a sign that pointed to the reason why God created the world: so that human beings can share in His eternal life. It was a sign that pointed to our passage from the slavery of sin to the freedom of the children of God. Jesus was not a prophet who came to uphold the Law of Moses. Rather, Jesus came to re-establish the Sabbath in which the people worshipped God and were elevated to brothers and sisters with the Son of God.
Jesus also alludes to the nearing end of the old priesthood by invoking the name of Abiathar. Abiathar was the last of the high priests of the descendants of Eli. After Abiathar, the high priesthood passed to Zadok, who was a Levite priest and descendant of Aaron. Jesus, then, compares himself to David, and compares his disciples to David’s companions. David and his companions ate the bread of the presence that only the priests could eat, and something greater than David is here. Jesus is the eternal high priest. His apostles, on the night of the Last Supper, will be consecrated as priests of the New Covenant. At the Last Supper, Jesus will institute the New Passover that his Apostles and their successors and coworkers will celebrate on Sunday, the day of the New Sabbath. It will be a day to commemorate the Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection, to celebrate our recreation in Christ, and to look forward to the consummation of history when our Lord will return in glory.
The Pharisees fear losing their authority. But Jesus is not looking to be the new leader of the Jews. Jesus is coming to be the Lord of all, Jew and Gentile alike.
Today’s Question for Prayer and Reflection
How can you make Sunday different than the rest of the week, a day of family, worship, prayer, and rest?
Source of today’s reflection: https://epriest.com/reflections/view/2950