Tuesday 17 January

SAINT ANTHONY, ABBOT

Hebrews 6:10-20; Psalm 110:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10;
Mark 2:23-28

A clear focus

The Pharisees have a point in today’s Gospel: the disciples shouldn’t be picking ears of corn on the Sabbath. Actually, there were many things that the disciples–and everyone else – should not be doing on the Sabbath, because it was a day of rest on which people weren’t required to work. But Jesus makes the point that people are more important than the Law – the Law is good, but only if it benefits people and responds to their needs. We, too, are called to be conscious that we should always keep the needs of others clearly in our focus so that we respond positively rather than negatively.