Reflection
Again today, the leaders in the synagogue “watched Jesus closely” trying to catch him breaking their laws of the Sabbath. But Jesus refuses to withhold his love and healing mercy.
The legal scholars and religious-minded Jews were filled with fury and contempt for Jesus because they put their own thoughts of right and wrong above God. They were ensnared in their own legalism because they did not understand or see the purpose of God for the Sabbath commandment (remember the Sabbath day - to keep it holy - Exodus 20:8). Jesus shows their fallacy by pointing to God's intention for the Sabbath: to do good and to save life rather than to do evil or to destroy life (Mark 3:3).
Since the time of the first Apostles, Christians have traditionally celebrated Sunday as the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10; Acts 20:7; Luke 24:30; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2) to worship together around the table of the Lord (the Eucharist or Lord's Supper) and to commemorate God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ and the new work of creation accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection.
The earliest Christians, especially those like Jesus with Jewish ancestry, were truly set free from the restrictions of the Old Law of Moses. Six hundred and thirteen laws were reduced to two: love the Lord and love your neighbor.
Taking "our sabbath rest" is a way of expressing honor to God for all that he has done for us in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Such "rest" however does not exempt us from our love for our neighbor. If we truly love the Lord above all else, then the love of God will overflow to love of neighbor as well.
Today’s Questions for Prayer and Reflection
Do you honor the Lord in the way you celebrate Sunday, the Lord's Day and in the way you treat you neighbor?
Source for today’s reflection: https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan22