5o Shades of Gray

Gospel: Mark 2: 23-28

Pharisees in every time and place have a singular approach to the law.  For them, it is always crystal clear and admits of no exception, no mercy.  So, in today's Gospel we find them condemning Jesus' disciples for plucking grains to eat on the Sabbath, seeing that as a violation of the law against work on the Sabbath.  So, this law is cited in order to condemn an action which is a fairly common one in agricultural societies regardless of the day of the week.

Jesus always has a different take on the law.  For him, a merciful interpretation is always at work, and so here he cites the example of David and his men who ate the showbread of the Temple in order to avoid starving, showbread that was forbidden them to eat or even touch.  Jesus could also have cited the Jewish law's command to set aside portions of one's crop for the poor and resident alien to avail themselves of whenever they were hungry, even on the Sabbath.  

We always have a choice of approach with respect to the law.  We can be like Pharisees who look for any occasion to condemn another.  Or we can be like Jesus who looks for any occasion to see a moment of grace and mercy, where feeding a hungry person is more important than anything else.  Today is a day to reflect on what kind of religion, what kind of nation we wish to be - and if we wish to be like Jesus then we must be about that work of mercy and love in the world.