Friday, XV Week of Ordinary Time
(Matthew 12)
Nine years ago Pope John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it the pope tried to awaken Catholics to the glory of reserving one day a week for prayer, family, and renewal. He also challenged the secularizing idea of “weekend” which stretches a day for giving thanks in beloved company into two days or more of fulfilling personal ambitions. The letter is vintage John Paul: intensely human, reflective, and holy.
In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides us with his own reflection on the Sabbath. Of course, for him it is the very end of the week, not its beginning. As in Orthodox Jewish communities today, the Sabbath in Jesus’ time is rigorously regulated: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. Historians tell us that in Israel before the Babylonian Exile the Sabbath observance was more relaxed and enjoyable. This is Jesus’ take as he responds to the complaints of the Pharisees that his disciples are not Sabbath observant.
Do we feel a twinge of guilt when we stop at Wal-Mart or go to the office for a few hours on Sunday evening? It would not necessarily be unhealthy if we did. It is not that such actions are sinful in themselves. Jesus argues for the necessity of similar deeds by his disciples. But still we should not let Sunday go by without giving primary consideration to Jesus. He is, after all, the “Lord of the Sabbath.”
