Then he said to them,
"The sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
Jesus's reply to the Pharisees is not for them but for us, his disciples. The Pharisees are not going to understand; their minds are set.
The disciples were already familiar with a trope from 2 Maccabees (5:19):
The Lord, however, had not chosen the nation for the sake of the place [that is, the site of the temple], but the place for the sake of the nation.
Many Christian churches and shrines sit where their pagan ancestors worshiped their gods for centuries. Humans instinctively search for God and often attempt to satisfy that desire by creating religious rituals, including sacred chants, dances, clothing, foods, and sites. The holiest feast on the American calendar is rapidly approaching, February 12, Super Bowl LVII. (The Roman numerals stress its holiness.) Wikipedia breathlessly describes the chosen site, State Farm Stadium in Glendale Arizona. The arena is said to be an architectural icon for its retractable roof and roll-in natural grass field.
Today's scripture passage assures us that our freedom is not anchored by a sacred site or by a sacred day of the week. We are not made for Sunday or the Sabbath, but God has made those days sacred for Christians, just as he made the Sabbath and the site of the Jerusalem temple sacred for the Jews. (Nor, for that matter, are Christians required to observe Super Bowl Sunday though it can be fun to join friends and family for the occasion.)
Being with the Lord, especially as we eat -- the context of today's gospel is the disciples' plucking and noshing on ripe grain as they pass through a field -- should not be accompanied by stomach-churning anxiety. He's our friend and we're more than comfortable in his presence; we're delighted he's come to join us. How wonderful it is!
This -- rather than aborting babies, owning guns, or shopping on Sunday -- is what we mean by freedom. As the New Testament prophet Zechariah said: we are given
...salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, (that) rescued from the hand of enemies, without fear we might worship him in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
The first amendment of the US Constitution guarantees Catholics the right to worship. This privilege we must use -- or lose.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.