…The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath...” (Mk 2:23-28)
God is good, all the time.
Friends, in today's gospel, Jesus shows the divine paradox of justice and compassion in his response to the complaints of the Pharisees about what they considered the breaking of the Sabbath laws by the disciples of Jesus. In their failure to think like Jesus, the Pharisees directed their disapproval of the action of the disciples towards the Lord and intimated that the disciples were doing something unlawful at the Sabbath.
Jesus responded, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" to proffer an outstanding teaching that the heart, which is the seat of compassion, is indispensable when matters that affect human needs and sufferings are at stake in deliberations, thoughts, and actions.
Our notions of justice and compassion tend to set clear boundaries between the two, and generally charity receives the faintier consideration when the fear of losing grounds or sacrificing what we want or have is involved.
If we must think and act like Jesus, we will notice how he challenges the notion that justice relating to the law, right, privilege, or place should stand against compassion towards people. He emphasizes the indispensability of our hearts in matters concerning human. And this is the truth echoed in the first reading, "God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones."
Today, there is a sense of general trepidation about life; there are concerns about deepening income inequality, lingering anxiety from the Covid-19 pandemic, experience of suffering and devastation by millions of workers and their families across the world due to long-term unemployment, food insecurity, and unstable economic and social life. All of these bring us to the heart of Jesus’ teaching today that compassion from individuals, organizations, governments, and nations is the only inexorable conduit of hope to all people: the rich, the poor, the healthy, and the sick.
Continually seeking ways to make life more comfortable for one another is our true vocation in life. As St. Augustine reminds us, “Love is when you care deeply about someone and will do anything for them.”
Prayer blessings: Lord, change my heart so that I may I be like you. Amen.