Commentary on the Gospel of Saturday, September 4, 2021

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.
Some Pharisees said,
“Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Have you not read what David did
when he and those who were with him were hungry?
How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,
which only the priests could lawfully eat,
ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

Today’s readings are rich in substance. A reminder of how important it is to express compassion, to find the graces in each day, to understand, to be companions to others. To remember how we are loved by God.  It is also a reminder for me to be cognizant that the current traditions, rules, regulations, and policies were made during a particular time/century in which biases existed. 

I am reminded to ask the following questions. How did they improve the human condition? How and when have I acted like the “Pharisees”?  If I am grounded in my faith, am intentional in deepening my relationship with God, trust that God is connected to all that is good even in my experiences with suffering, then my relationship to traditions, rules, regulations, and policies can be contextual with a deeper understanding that they exist for this time and can change. 

I can bring my love for Jesus to the situation and ask the question what would Jesus do?  

As I write this reflection today the world is grieving many tragedies and my heart is heavy with the tremendous suffering that currently exists in this world. I pray to God to increase my awareness of what ‘good’ I can do amid the suffering?  How can I support and recognize when human need takes precedence over the traditions, rules, regulations, and policies?  

I pray for compassion, understanding, and the strength to advocate for the changes needed.