2nd Sunday after Pentecost
Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23—3:6
The Revised Common Lectionary returns to Mark on the second Sunday after Pentecost. In the gospel lessons, Jesus is asked a question that begs for an answer: Why were his disciples doing what was deemed unlawful on the Sabbath? It’s a loaded question, and Jesus answered it all right, with way more than those in authority asked for.
The question is loaded because this is about more than just, theoretically, harvesting grain on the Sabbath, which was, in fact, not permitted. It was about a pattern of perceived disobedience already shown by Jesus and his disciples in Mark’s gospel. The roots of this challenge were planted some verses before when Jesus was sitting with those who would be considered undeserving of attention if not completely marginalized (Mark 2:13-17). The question then directed to the disciples was, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners (verse 16)?”
Jesus’ answer is more than they asked for because it is about more than filling the disciples’ empty stomachs. In 1 Samuel 21:1-6, David is already on his course to become the anointed King of Israel but finds himself fleeing the envy of current King Saul. It can be argued that David and his companions were fed so what God had prepared could come to fruition. Similarly, what God was preparing through Jesus and the disciples – the kingdom come near – needed to come to fruition regardless of the obstacles conceived and raised by mortals. The kingdom was meant to restore and allow for life.
The Deuteromist reminds us of the merciful meaning of the gift of the Sabbath. All God’s creatures are freed to be restored and continue to live. The command to observe the Sabbath stands in opposition to the oppressive and life-taking slavery in Egypt.
To the church in Corinth, Paul offers the hope brought by the precious gift of faith. Despite the apparent fragility of the body, those who like him carry the visible marks of the disobedient proclamation that confesses that Jesus is Lord can be assured of being instruments to the restorative power of God in Jesus Christ for the world.
The psalmist proclaims:
For it is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He made it a decree in Joseph,
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a voice I had not known:
“I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you.’”
(Psalm 81:4-7; NRSVue)
Bridging Faith 