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obligation is out of date so that we might “seize the day!”.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!
