What a thing to get in trouble for – picking grain on the Sabbath. Snacking, really:
"One sabbath he was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain."
The Pharisees, always watching for a reason to question Jesus’ bona fides as a holy person, ask why his disciples are breaking the law by doing “work” on the Sabbath. Jesus replies with an example of “situational ethics”:
"Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions."
Jesus makes two bold rhetorical moves here. First, he evokes a story of the great King David, from whose line the Messiah was to come. Who could argue with the choices of King David? And he tells a story about David and his men raiding the sacramental bread in the temple of God – a much more serious breach than picking off a few heads of grain on the sabbath, yet one for which David seemingly faced no punishment. Feeding the hungry matters more than the letter of the law.
The Pharisees, like all people given to legalism and self-righteousness, liked to interpret the Law in black and white terms. “This is what it says; obey it, or else.” Jesus asserted that the Law was to serve humankind, not inhibit normal human actions and interactions. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” He was not tossing out the Law; he was grounding its interpretation in love, recognizing that it cannot be applied blindly in all circumstances.
In citing this example, implicitly comparing the holy bread of the Presence with heads of grain in a field, Jesus also broadens the scope of what might be deemed holy. Those heads of grain become sacramental bread to feed Jesus’ followers because Jesus is there. Perhaps we need not make quite so strong a distinction between Sacrament and sacramental. Yes, the elements we bless at eucharist are invested with particular holiness, as we believe Christ is truly present in them in a mysterious way when his Church is gathered for worship.
Yet Christ’s presence also infuses the bread we break at our tables and desks, as we remember he is with us. Christ’s presence infuses the wheat as it grows, as we bless our fields. Christ’s presence infuses the preparation in factories and kitchens, as we invoke his holiness in those places. To live a sacramental life is to be mindful of Christ’s presence in everything and everyone as we move through the day.
What ordinary sacraments might God be inviting you to participate in today? What eucharistic feasts? What baptismal blessings of new life? Pray for the grace to see and hear and touch and taste God today.
The Celtic church had such an awareness, and has left us beautiful prayers of blessing over brooms and hearths, cooking pots and garden patches. Here is one for today:
A New Day
As I wake from sleep, rouse me,
As I wash, cleanse me,
As I dress, gird me with your power,
As I eat, energize me,
As I journey, protect me,
As I relax, calm me,
As I sleep, surround me.
The Pharisees, always watching for a reason to question Jesus’ bona fides as a holy person, ask why his disciples are breaking the law by doing “work” on the Sabbath. Jesus replies with an example of “situational ethics”:
"Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions."
Jesus makes two bold rhetorical moves here. First, he evokes a story of the great King David, from whose line the Messiah was to come. Who could argue with the choices of King David? And he tells a story about David and his men raiding the sacramental bread in the temple of God – a much more serious breach than picking off a few heads of grain on the sabbath, yet one for which David seemingly faced no punishment. Feeding the hungry matters more than the letter of the law.
The Pharisees, like all people given to legalism and self-righteousness, liked to interpret the Law in black and white terms. “This is what it says; obey it, or else.” Jesus asserted that the Law was to serve humankind, not inhibit normal human actions and interactions. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” He was not tossing out the Law; he was grounding its interpretation in love, recognizing that it cannot be applied blindly in all circumstances.
In citing this example, implicitly comparing the holy bread of the Presence with heads of grain in a field, Jesus also broadens the scope of what might be deemed holy. Those heads of grain become sacramental bread to feed Jesus’ followers because Jesus is there. Perhaps we need not make quite so strong a distinction between Sacrament and sacramental. Yes, the elements we bless at eucharist are invested with particular holiness, as we believe Christ is truly present in them in a mysterious way when his Church is gathered for worship.
Yet Christ’s presence also infuses the bread we break at our tables and desks, as we remember he is with us. Christ’s presence infuses the wheat as it grows, as we bless our fields. Christ’s presence infuses the preparation in factories and kitchens, as we invoke his holiness in those places. To live a sacramental life is to be mindful of Christ’s presence in everything and everyone as we move through the day.
What ordinary sacraments might God be inviting you to participate in today? What eucharistic feasts? What baptismal blessings of new life? Pray for the grace to see and hear and touch and taste God today.
The Celtic church had such an awareness, and has left us beautiful prayers of blessing over brooms and hearths, cooking pots and garden patches. Here is one for today:
A New Day
As I wake from sleep, rouse me,
As I wash, cleanse me,
As I dress, gird me with your power,
As I eat, energize me,
As I journey, protect me,
As I relax, calm me,
As I sleep, surround me.
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