Friday, July 15, 2022

 

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Isaiah 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; Matthew 12:1-8)

Jacob Neusner, an American rabbi, wrote a book about a dialogue between himself and Jesus.  The rabbi admired Jesus’ profundity in the Sermon on the Mount.  But he could not commit himself to Jesus because Jesus assumed a position greater than the Law.  The rabbi recognized that Jesus was making himself commensurate with God.  Jesus does so again as the ultimate argument in his defense of his disciples in today’s gospel.

The gospel’s may be seen as a running debate between Jesus and the Pharisees over Sabbath rules.  The issue is significant because the Sabbath represents the goal of the Jewish life – rest in the Lord.  Jesus does not deny the goal, nor does he ignore the Sabbath.  However, he does not claim strict observance as an exceptionless rule.  He sees himself as the arbiter of when not to comply because, as he says in today’s passage, he is “the Lord of the Sabbath.”

Do we take him as our Lord?  Rabbi Neusner could not although he respected Jesus as a great teacher.  We sometimes waver often because our environment is filled with contrary ideas.  It will tell us that the Sunday obligation is out of date so that we might “seize the day!”.  Or it may say that pornography and masturbation are harmless.  If we have accepted Jesus as Lord, we will resist these temptations.  He has spoken openly and lovingly in the gospels and now through the Church.  Let’s follow him!

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