The Son of Man Is Lord of the Sabbath

September 9th Readings Reflection: Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

Today’s Gospel recounts the incident in which the Pharisees rebuked Jesus’ disciples for picking grain on a sabbath. Jesus replied with the powerful declaration, “The Son of Man is [L]ord of the sabbath.”

In biblical times, the Jews strictly adhered to the Third Commandment, which states, “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.” Cooking food on the sabbath was forbidden in the Old Law, which is why the Pharisees decided to rebuke Jesus’ disciples for picking grain to eat. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that in His reply to the Pharisees, Jesus gave the Third Commandment “its authentic and authoritative interpretation…. With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good…. The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God” (CCC, § 2173).

In the Old Law, the sabbath was Saturday, the last day of the week, since that is the day on which God rested when He created the world (cf. Gen 2:2-3). As Christians, we recognize that Sunday fulfills the sabbath of the Old Law, for Sunday is the day on which Christ rose from the dead: “In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God” (CCC, § 2175). We refrain from unnecessary servile work and attend Mass on Sundays in order that the day may be holy and dedicated to God.

However, unlike the Pharisees of the Old Law, the Church recognizes that just work is sometimes necessary on Sundays. Just work includes caring for our families and those in need, performing works of mercy, and working when necessary to support our family in times of need (see CCC, § 285-2186). The sabbath is made for man, and we must never neglect the needs of our families or those who suffer. The Church emphasizes that even when necessity demands that we perform physical work on a Sunday, we must always make time for God and attend Mass each Sunday in order to keep God’s day holy.

The offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays has a unique correlation with Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel. The Mass is the unbloody sacrifice of Calvary in which Christ offers Himself to the Father again and “applies to us the merits of His Sacrifice on the cross” (Baltimore Catechism No. 3, q. 362). On Sundays, the day that Christ rose from the dead, it is fitting that we offer the unbloody representation of this sacrifice again on the altars of every Catholic Church. Offering Himself to the Father through the Holy Eucharist on behalf of His children, Christ continually manifests Himself as Lord of the sabbath, drawing us to Himself in the unity of the one, holy, universal, and apostolic Church.

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