YOUCAT Question n. 363 - How does Jesus deal with the Sabbath?
(Youcat
answer) Jesus observes the Sabbath, but at the same time he deals with it very
liberally, as one who has complete command over it: The sabbath was made for
man, not man for the sabbath” (Mk 2:27).
A deepening through CCC
(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).
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) The fact that Jesus claims the right to heal
on the Sabbath and to interpret the Sabbath laws mercifully poses a dilemma for
his Jewish contemporaries: Either Jesus is the Messiah sent by God, which makes
him “Lord even of the sabbath” (Mk 2:28), or else he is merely a man, in which
case his actions on the Sabbath are a sin against the Law.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC 577)
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issued a solemn warning in
which he presented God's law, given on Sinai during the first covenant, in
light of the grace of the New Covenant: Do not think that I have come to
abolish the law or the prophets: I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For
truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one
stroke of a letter, will pass from the law, until all is accomplished.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches
others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but
whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of
heaven (Mt 5:17-19).
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