Breaking the Word – Page 2538 – Rev. Dr. Victor Antonyraj SDB

19.01.10 SABBATH

Posted under Reflections on January 18th, 2010 by

Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?" Mk 2,24

We read in the creation story as follows:

Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing,

he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,

because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. Gen 2,2-3

Because God rested on the Sabbath day and made it holy

the people also rested on that day.

God rested from works of creation.

So people also were obliged to rest from works that

were mainly of creative nature.

People could not light a lamp. That was similar to creating light.

They could not stitch clothes. That was similar to making a new dress.

So also they could not prepare food.

Here in this passage the disciples were making food by talking the corns

and preparing them to eat. It is as good as preparing food.

It is a creative work and it is forbidden.

The Pharisees were correct in questioning them.

But What Jesus presents is not just the practice of the law.

It is the practice of the law over against the person.

Between the person and the law, the person takes precedence.

Person is in the image and likeness of God.

18.01.10 FASTING & BRIDEGROOM

Posted under Reflections on January 17th, 2010 by

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. Mk 2,19

Fasting, prayer and almsgiving are the three main pious practices of a religion. In this passage for today, Jesus takes up the issue of fasting for discussion.

Jesus raises a question and answers it as well. Usually when he raises a question he would always expect his listeners to answer. (Like, in the case of good Samaritan or in the parable of the two brothers who were asked to go the farm to work etc.) Here he answers it all by himself.

Here the issue is about fasting and celebration. Both cannot co-exist. One is opposed to the other.

So a religion has these two aspects: fasting and feasting. Jesus also accepts this. But what he says is that these two cannot be patched up.

Jesus presence in this world is a time of celebration. He is the bridegroom who has come into the world.

As long as he is in the world there is no fasting. Probably that is why he also says: No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” Mk 2, 21-22.

Christian religion is a celebrating religion

because Jesus is within.

Is there Jesus around?