Breaking the Word

2^nd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 17^th January 2023 — Gospel: Mark 2,23-28

Messianic and Royal identities

On the Sabbath day, the disciples of Jesus were walking in the cornfield. They picked up grain and ate ripe kernels. The stringent interpretation of the Torah by the Pharisees leads them to accuse the disciples of their grain harvesting, which is forbidden on the Sabbath (Ex 34,21). They questioned Jesus for breaking one of the thirty-nine regulations that was prohibited on Sabbath day. By recounting the narrative from 1 Samuel 21,2-7, Jesus highlights his own identity as descendant of David and his authority as the Messiah. If God’s anointed king and his men could eat the bread of the Presence in the meeting tent when they were hungry, then surely Jesus and his disciples could reap from the fields as they go about their mission. The comparison between this incident of David and the acts of Jesus and his disciples concerns not only what is allowable on the Sabbath, but the royal and anointed nature of Jesus’ mission.

2^nd Week in Ord. Time, Monday – 16^th January 2023 — Gospel: Mark 2,18-22

Jesus Inaugurates Joyful Kingdom

At the time of Jesus, the Jewish people fasted during the times of mourning and repentance and also on the annual Day of Atonement (Lev 16,1-34; 23,26-32; Num 29,7-11); for it helps to achieve closeness to God. Person might fast for personal expression of sorrow or repentance also (1 Kgs 21,27; 2 Sam 3,35). Here Jesus is asked why his group of followers does not fast, while the groups within Judaism, such as the Pharisees and John’s do. In responding with a counter question, Jesus makes an astonishing claim that he is “the bridegroom” and his followers are wedding guests. Jesus uses the occasion to deepen the people’s understanding of his identity and authority; and to recall God’s covenantal love with Israel. The marital imagery was familiar to those who listened to Israel’s prophets (Hos 2,16-20; Is 54,5-6). For example, Isaiah proclaimed, “As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isa 62,5). In this joyful time of marriage feast, God’s salvation was anticipated and restored through the nuptial bond between himself and his unfaithful people. Now in Jesus’ time, the kingdom of God has been inaugurated like a joyful wedding banquet and salvation will be promised to those who participate in it.