RELEASED FROM THE BURDEN OF SCRUPULOSITY ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Saturday, 9^thSeptember 2017.

Twenty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Saturday Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

Col 1: 21-23;

Ps 54: 3-4, 6, 8;

Lk 6: 1-5

RELEASED FROM THE BURDEN OF SCRUPULOSITY

The Sabbath existed even before the law was given at Mount Sinai (Ex 19). The Jews were taught to “remember the Sabbath” and to keep it holy. The Sabbath was intended as a day of rest and worship, a time to remember that God ceased his work of creation on the seventh day.

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a Sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. The Pharisees considered the disciples’ action a violation of the Sabbath. When they condemned Jesus for this, he turned the tables on them. Jesus used David as an example. When fleeing from Saul, he ate bread consecrated for use in the Holy Place of the tabernacle (1 Sam 21: 1-6). Jesus then declared that the Sabbath is not Lord, but the Son of Man is. He alone has the authority to override any rule or law concerning the Sabbath.

Jesus’ response makes it clear that the Pharisees are quite confused and that the disciples did nothing wrong. Many a times, we too fall into the spiritual danger of scrupulosity. Like the Pharisees who feared to break God’s command to keep holy the Sabbath, we might fall in the extreme and erroneous view of the law of God. God’s law is perfect and must always be followed down to the last letter of the law. Human laws and human misrepresentations of the law of God can cause confusion. In the Scripture above, God was not offended in any way by the disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, therefore, were attempting to impose a burden on the disciples that was not from God.Reflect, today, upon your own struggle with scrupulosity. If this is you, know that God wants to free you from these burdens.

Prayer: Lord, help me to see Your law and will in the light of truth. Help me to shed all misconceptions and misrepresentations of Your law in exchange for the truths of Your perfect love and mercy. May I cling to that mercy and love in all things and above all things. Jesus, I trust in You.Amen.