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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

 

The Pharisees are trying to trick Jesus into admitting that His disciples had broken the Jewish law by picking and eating grain on the Sabbath. They want nothing more than for Jesus to prove that He deserves crucifixion, so that they can be rid of Him once and for all.

But our Lord is too clever for the Pharisees. He is quick to point out that there are times when the Sabbath law isn’t valid when it comes to the priests serving at the Temple. Nor did David follow the law when he and his companions at the bread of offering when they were hungry. Yet the Pharisees didn’t condemn the priests, nor did they condemn David and his companions. So, why do they condemn Jesus’ disciples? They do it because they fail to see and accept that Jesus is the Messiah – God Himself – and that He rules over all. By comparing Jesus to mere men, the Pharisees are denying his divinity and power and attempting to force God to bow before man’s laws, rather than man blowing before God’s laws.

Tragically, this isn’t an isolated incidence. Since the time of Adam and Eve, man has tried to force God to bow to his laws rather than him bowing to God’s laws. We need only to look around us to see case after case after case of this. Perhaps we see it in our own families. Perhaps we see it in our own hearts. Like the Pharisees, we get hung up on the form rather than the spirit. Jesus’ words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” are a caution against placing more importance on what is done and how it is done than on the reason and meaning behind it.

Since the time of Adam and Eve, man has tried to force God to bow to his laws rather than him bowing to God’s laws. #dailygospel

 

Ponder:

In what areas of my life do I place more importance on the way things are done rather on the reason for doing them?

 

Pray:

Lord Jesus, please help me to see that You are the power behind all things. Grant me the grace to do things according to Your will and not my own. Amen.

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Copyright 2020 Marge Steinhage Fenelon