Made for the Sabbath

One sabbath he was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?’ And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.’ Then he said to them, ‘The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.’ Again, he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come forward.’ Then he said to them, ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Mark 2:23-3:6

It's so hard when pain, suffering and hunger keep a person from living a full life. Too often, the poor, the sick, the homeless and the hungry are shoved to the margins of our society. Jesus's whole ministry on this earth was one of gathering the hurting from the margins, feeding them and making them whole. Yet we set up rules and judge the less capable with great disregard. It was the same in Jesus' time. He offered and still offers "rest unto your soul." May we be brave enough to embrace it, to fall back into the loving arms of our Creator.

Creator God, you give us abundant life

you set aside times for rest and renewal

you turn the world to all the seasons

and you invite us to rest and heal on the sabbath.

We rush and tear around in agitation

judging those who can't keep up with us

snarling at the one who rests on the bench

criticizing the poor and the infirmed.

Help us to realize our poverty and weakness

make us strong enough to be compassionate

give us your peace so that we might rest

in the secure and loving arms of our Creator. Amen.