Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 12, 1-8
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.
His disciples were hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,
“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”
He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did
when he and his companions were hungry,
how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering,
which neither he nor his companions
but only the priests could lawfully eat?
Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath
the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath
and are innocent?
I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.”
What is allowed and what I allow myself
1. Adherence to the law. Many involved in Church life stress obedience apart from faith, and sometimes, over faith. We rely more on the code of Canon Law rather than on the Gospel. By doing this, we become police officers of the church instead of witnesses of Christ. When you look at your brothers and sisters, look at them with the eyes of Jesus, not with those of the law.
2. Serving God. It is through love and service that your faith will grow. This renewed faith will also grow in your brothers and sisters because your faith in action serves as an example to them. Serving God is the result of falling in love and coming to God over and over again. Do not be afraid of serving with love, even if others question you or create obstacles for you because of your service to others.
3. Serving yourself rather than God. Do not fall for this temptation. The devil is shrewd and can make you believe that God is in places and things where He is not. We may think we are putting God first, but in the end, we are doing certain things out of selfishness as a way of building up our ego. Pray so that in your actions and interactions, you will be serving God and not just serving yourself.
God bless you in the name of The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Always remember that Heaven is our goal!
