Sabbath day - Mark 2:23-3:6

Proper 4

June 3, 2024

 

God commanded the people of Israel to observe the seventh day called Sabbath and keep it holy. It was and it is a very fundamental practice for the Jewish people and distinguishes them from other nations. The first lesson we read from Deuteronomy speaks about this commandment:

 

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work.  But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns… “(Deuteronomy 5,12-15).

 

The heart of this commandment is justice and involves the celebration of peace, freedom, and rest for humans, animals, and nature. Resting is a human right given by God and this commandment reminded the people of Israel that they had been slaves living under the domination of the Egyptian empire where they had no rest, but the mighty hand of God had liberated and made them free. The practice of this commandment was also a reminder that they should not replicate the same pattern of domination over others. The Israelites, however, did not escape the sin of slavery but God commanded them to treat the slaves fairly “… your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 5,15).  

 

This commandment was addressed to all people, but particularly to the rich and powerful people who owned slaves, cattle, and land and gave them no rest. Through forced labor, they were enriching themselves. It seems that some of them were even abusing their own children because the commandment explicitly says, “you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter…”  In summary, this commandment reminded the people of Israel that all God’s creation must be treated with dignity. Thus, the Sabbath is called “holy” not because of rules and rituals but because humans live according to the image of God.

Over time, this sacred day became distorted. The religious leaders transformed this liberating day into an oppressive tradition and the people were burdened by many rules. Thus, the Sabbath became a day charged with ceremonies and social regulations that threatened the well-being of the people, the animals, and nature. Religiosity and voracity for power had turned a sacred day into an oppressive one.

Mark tells us today of an incident that occurred on a Sabbath day, “One sabbath Jesus and his disciples were going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain” (2,23).  This image shows us Jesus and his hungry disciples going through the grain fields on a Sabbath. The disciples began plucking heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. Mark also tells us that the disciples were being observed by some Pharisees who did not see hungry people but people breaking the law!! So, addressing Jesus, the Pharisees say, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  Of course, Pharisaic piety preferred the fulfillment of their laws and traditions over feeding hungry people!!

In response, Jesus reminded the Pharisees the Sabbath’s meaning, “The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath…” In other words, Jesus reminded them that people’s well-being was the most important aspect in the observation of the Sabbath because there is no Sabbath without people living in fullness and abundance. The Pharisees preferred hungry people than breaking their traditions and rules.

Sisters and brothers, today, what is most important for us as Christians? Our traditions, rules, protocols, interests, or the peoples’ well-being?  As a community and individuals, how do we live the divine right to rest?  In a world, where “time is money”, how do we read the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is not a mere observation or a resting day, but a call to live in freedom, to live a dignified life without oppression. The Sabbath calls us to seek the well-being of all God’s creation: humans, animals, the earth, and to break the chains of injustice who make humans slaves.  Finally, the Sabbath calls us to encounter with our Creator in the Creation temple.

May the relentless system that prevails in our time not engulf us and lead us to the grave without having lived the fullness and dignified life that God wants for us. May we, Jesus’ disciples, find our own Sabbath.

Amen.