Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Second Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Hebrews 6:10-20
Psalm 111:1-2,4-5,9-10
Mark 2:23-28

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

In today's Gospel we see how Jesus is beginning to teach the people about the Jewish law and His relationship with it. It is interesting to see that He turns upside down their notion of the Sabbath with it's strict and confining practices. It's not to diminish the need of the people to slow down from normal practices in order to rest and praise God, but to teach them that it is not God who needs praise, but man who needs to give it.

He goes on to say that He has power over the Sabbath as He is the Son of Man -- a real man and yet Divine -- so He is entitled to speak about it and interpret the regulations concerning it.

As we know The Jewish leaders were not impressed or convinced, but instead thought He was an arrogant interloper.

What is the message for us? Perhaps it is to accept what Jesus taught, even if it differs from our 'notion' of Church law. That requires humility and obedience and ultimately the wisdom to see that all Church laws are directed toward our salvation and are not restrictive 'hoop-jumping' activities.

- Donna Nelson, OCDS
(drn3rd at hotmail dot com)

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posted by joachim at 6:55 AM