FIRST READING
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians (Colossians1:21-23)
He has reconciled you in order to present you holy and blameless.
Brethren: You, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in Christ’s body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm54:3-4.6 and 8 (R. 6a)
R/. See, I have God for my help.
O God, save me by your name;
by your power, defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer;
give ear to the words of my mouth. R/.
See, I have God for my help.
The Lord sustains my soul.
I will sacrifice to you with willing heart,
and praise your name, for it is good. R/.
ALLELUIA John 14:6
Alleluia. I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, but by me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 6:1-5)
“Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
On a sabbath, While Jesus was going through the grain fields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?” And Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the show bread, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” And he said to them, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
The “unlawful” acts committed by the disciples are “plucking ears of grain” and “rubbing them in their hands”. These are normal acts anyone would do while walking through a grain field. Jesus argues in favour of his disciples and proves that what they do is not really “unlawful” but satisfying a basic human need. No law can prevent an act committed in the face of dire human need. Hunger is a global reality as 795 million people in the world exist without the nutrition their minds and bodies need, which then prevents them from being able to work, go to school, or improve their lives. This while, 85 persons control half of the world’s wealth! Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath. Is also the Lord of compassion and love, especially towards those suffering from hunger and poverty.