Wednesday, March 20, 2013
451. How did Jesus act in regard to the Sabbath?
(Comp 451) Jesus recognized the holiness of the Sabbath day and with divine
authority he gave this law its authentic interpretation: “The Sabbath was made
for man, and not man for the sabbath” (Mark 2:27).
“In brief”
(CCC 2189) "Observe the
sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Deut 5:12). "The seventh day is a
sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord" (Ex 31:15).
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 592) Jesus did not abolish the Law of Sinai, but rather
fulfilled it (cf. Mt 5:17-19) with such perfection (cf. Jn 8:46) that he
revealed its ultimate meaning (cf. Mt 5:33) and redeemed the transgressions
against it (cf. Heb 9:15). (CCC 2173) The Gospel
reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But
Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day (Cf. Mk 1:21; Jn 9:16).
He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The
sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" (Mk 2:27). With
compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for
saving life rather than killing (Cf. Mk 3:4). The sabbath is the day of the
Lord of mercies and a day to honor God (Cf. Mt 12:5; Jn 7:23). "The Son of
Man is lord even of the sabbath" (Mk 2:28).
Reflection
(CCC 582) Going even further, Jesus perfects the dietary
law, so important in Jewish daily life, by revealing its pedagogical meaning
through a divine interpretation: "Whatever goes into a man from outside
cannot defile him… (Thus he declared all foods clean.). What comes out of a man
is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil
thoughts…" (Mk 7:18-21; cf. Gal 3:24). In presenting with divine authority
the definitive interpretation of the Law, Jesus found himself confronted by
certain teachers of the Law who did not accept his interpretation of the Law,
guaranteed though it was by the divine signs that accompanied it (Cf. Jn 5:36; 10:25, 37-38; 12:37). This was
the case especially with the sabbath laws, for he recalls, often with
rabbinical arguments, that the sabbath rest is not violated by serving God and
neighbor (Cf. Num 28:9; Mt 12:5; Mk 2:25-27; Lk 13:15-16; 14:3-4; Jn 7:22-24),
which his own healings did.
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