Loving God, you instituted the Sabbath for the health and well-being of all people and taught us the rhythm of work and rest.  Teach us how to rest in you and empower us to grow in your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

           The original gift of the Sabbath was rest.  God rested on the seventh day and hallowed it.  It was a day when slaves could rest, employees could rest, and even farm animals could have a day to rest and recover.  It was a day that belonged to God rather than to employers or slave owners.

         However, by the time that Jesus walked this earth, the Sabbath had become all about the rules.  Rules kept getting added as times changed, while none of the old rules ever got removed.  It was getting to the point where there was very little that was actually allowed on the Sabbath.  And so, Jesus tries to teach them what the Sabbath is all about.

         When it comes to plucking heads of grain and eating them, the disciples must have been really hungry!  Eating grain would be kind of like dipping into the animal feed.  It is not particularly appetizing.  Still, the Pharisees take issue with this because of the rules surrounding not harvesting – or making others work – on the Sabbath – which is actually something totally different.

         In response to these objections, Jesus points out that David also broke the rules when he and his men were hungry, and ate the bread that only the priests are supposed to eat (1 Sam. 21).  In each case Jesus is saying, it is okay to feed the hungry, regardless of what other rules are in place.

         As for healing somebody on the Sabbath, once again the Pharisees object because they see it as “working” on the Sabbath.  However, Jesus is not going to make this man wait one more day to receive the healing that God desires for him.  Jesus asks them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” (Lk. 6:9)  The question hangs there with nobody answering.  And then, he heals the man.

         Their focus, it seems, was on everything that was not permitted on the Sabbath.  Many of you are likely acquainted with similar rules.  No cutting the lawn.  No going outside to play football or baseball.  No drinking, dancing or playing cards.  No using the internet on Sundays.  No Sunday shopping.  And, if you happen to be an extremely observant Jew, no pushing buttons in an elevator on the Sabbath – because that would be considered “work.” Yet, in spite of the rules that have been in place over the years, how many mothers in Christian households have spent Sundays cooking a big dinner for their families – which is apparently okay?

         Jesus, however, tries to get the people to focus on what could and should happen on the Sabbath.  As a day that belongs to God, anything that helps us to grow in our love for God and for one another is not only permitted, but encouraged.  Anything that promotes the health and well-being of both individuals and communities is also encouraged.  And, engaging in the things that are close to God’s heart – like feeding the hungry or caring for the poor and the isolated – these things also have a place on the Sabbath.

         It is painfully easy to be like the Pharisees and to focus on everything that other people shouldn’t be doing.  In fact, these days, it is easy to become focused on everything that all of us can’t do – not just on the Sabbath, but on any day.  Yet, if we think of this, too, as God’s time, what are the things that we can do?

         We can still worship, even if it is in a different way.  In fact, there are enough services both online and on TV that we could worship every day if we were so inclined.  We can still pray – either on our own or with others over the phone or the internet.  We can still do things to help look after the needs of others – like dropping off food at the Urban or mittens and hats at schools.  We can still check in on those who are alone or shut-in – even if it does have to be by phone.  We can still lend financial support to those ministries that are important to us.  We can still make choices that do good and preserve life.

         We still have need of the Sabbath, which was instituted for the health and well-being of all people.  And, whether your Sabbath is Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or some other day, the important thing is that you have at least one day that belongs to God and allows for rest.  We were not designed to work seven days a week.

         A sabbath, however, can also be once a day, once an hour, or even once a minute.  It is time that belongs to God and that gives us rest – time that does good and preserves life.  Jesus is, indeed, Lord of the Sabbath, and continues to bring healing, salvation, and life in all its fulness.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Epiphany 4 (NL 3)                                        Luke 6:1-16

January 31, 2021

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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