Mark 2:23 - John 3:6
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from Cory:
In this week’s reading, Jesus finds himself in conflict with tradition. The Sabbath was a day given by God to people for rest, prayer, and play. Over time, people became so fixated on not doing the Sabbath wrong, that they forgot how to do it well. Things have gotten so out of whack that Jesus is genuinely asking people “Is it okay to save a life on the Sabbath?”
Jesus says that the Sabbath was created for us, not the other way around. You can substitute a lot of other things for Sabbath in that idea. Religion, politics, traditions are all meant to serve humans, not the other way around. The end goal of all of those things should be human beings in right relation with the divine, with one another, with ourselves, and with the earth.
The Sabbath keepers are no different than us. We are all prone to letting something—religion, doctrine, political commitments, traditions, values—get in the way of showing compassion towards others.
What stands between us and being human to others?
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
This week, find a creative way to say yes to showing compassion to someone.
Pathways toward Centeredness
Consider a tradition, value, or commitment that might be getting in the way of you communicating compassionately with others. Ask someone you trust to give you some feedback on how you are adhering to that tradition.
Questions for Reflection
Are there any traditions in your own life that have gotten in the way of you showing up for another human?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
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