Podcast & Webcast | Liturgy

Saint Luke 6:1-5.

by Daily Gospel | Source: Daily Gospel

Letter to the Colossians 1:21-23.

And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds
he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him,
provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

Psalms 54(53):3-4.6.8.

O God, by your name save me. By your strength defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer. Listen to the words of my mouth.
God is present as my helper; the Lord sustains my life.
Then I will offer you generous sacrifice and praise your gracious name, LORD,


Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 6:1-5.

While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.
Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?"
Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those (who were) with him were hungry?
(How) he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions."
Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath."



Commentary of the day
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Genesis according to the literal sense, 4, xiii/24-xiv/25 (DDB 1972, p. 313)

"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day" (Ex 20,8)

Now we are in the time of grace revealed to us, the observance of the Sabbath, which was previously symbolized by resting on a single day, has been brought to an end where the faithful are concerned. For in this time of grace Christians observe an unending Sabbath, provided that all the good they do is done in hope of the rest to come and provided they don't boast about the good they do as though it were a good belonging to them rather than having received it.

So when they understand and receive the sacrament of baptism as a Sabbath, that is to say as the Lord's resting in the tomb (Rm 6,4), Christians rest from their former works to walk from henceforward in the life that is new, recognising that God acts within them. It is God who both works and rests together, on the one hand granting his creatures the guidance they need, and on the other rejoicing in himself in everlasting tranquillity.

God was neither worn out by creating the world nor recovered his strength by ceasing to create, but he wished to invite us by these words of his Scripture [«God rested on the seventh day» (Gn 2,2)] to long for this rest by giving us the command to make this day holy.