SATURDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR
Mystery of the day: Joyful
Celebration: Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Liturgical Colour: White
Table of the Word
First Reading: Colossians 1:21-23
Gospel: Luke 6:1-5
Theme: Freedom beyond protocol.
And the Lord Whispers: “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath” (Luke 6:5).
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Sabbath by plucking heads of grain. Jesus responds with authority: “The Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” An attitude where holiness is seen in the light of legalism and not as a relationship. The Sabbath was given to man as a gift, not a chain. That is why God Himself every now and then Whispers to us: "My child, I am your rest, find true freedom in Me, not in burdens."
Here, Jesus reminds us that God’s law is fulfilled in love and mercy. Sometimes we can reduce religion to rigid rules and forget that Christ is the center. True rest is not in ceasing from work alone, but in dwelling in the Lord who gives peace.
According to the Church's teaching,
the Catechism avers: “The Sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money” (CCC 2172). Christ, by declaring Himself Lord of the Sabbath, does not abolish it but reveals its deepest meaning: communion with God and restoration of man.
St. Ignatius of Antioch on the other hand wrote: “If those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in observance of the Lord’s Day… how much more should we who belong to Him live according to this day.”
On the other hand, I
today we are in an era where fault finding become a day-to-day affair, where people suddenly become "CCTV cameras." They look for who to be at fault just like the Pharisees who left their businesses to watch every step made by Christ's disciples. Yesterday they laid complain before Jesus, asking why His disciples are not fasting. Today, the same class of "CCTV personalities" posed a question of: "why are they doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath?"
Christ in response as an authority defends His followers and challenges the Pharisees to see what is right and just to do it.
Beloved in Christ, today the Church invites us to reflect: Firstly, on how we keep Sunday and Holy Days of obligation Holy and as a day of worship and not merely a holiday.
Secondly, she exhorts us to desit from fault finding attitude but to correct and help one another in love; so that we may remain healthy, happier and more relaxed in the fold with Christ as Lord of the Sabbath.
Finally, the Lord Whispers once again: “Come to Me, and I will give you rest. In My presence you will find freedom beyond rules, and peace beyond measure.”
+ Peace be with you.
© ARCHIVE 06092025
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