Debate on Sabbath (Lk 6:1-5)

There were three bases for the celebration of Sabbath;

1. God rested after the creation on the seventh day (Gen 2:2) (Ex 20:8-11).

2. God told the Israelites to remember the deliverance from the slavery of Egypt on the day of Sabbath and celebrate it as a thanks giving day (Dt 5:15)

3. God blessed the Sabbath and made it holy (Ex 20:11, Lev 23:3).

For these reasons everybody should follow the Sabbath according the rules set for that day. Because of the strictness of its practice people began to think that Sabbath is to please God and to make Him happy. But Jesus taught that Sabbath is not for God but for man.

Do we try to make God happy by our good deeds and observation of the commandments? The reality is God neither be more happy or sad because of our actions nor he is angry because of our evil actions. If God is movable then He is not the Perfect One (whom St. Thomas Aquinas calls Unmoved Mover). He is no need of our praise and glory. It adds nothing to His greatness. Therefore we glorify God and obey the commandments not for God but for ourselves.

When we break the law and sin we go astray from God’s love. We make a block in the channel of reception of God’s grace. Let us remember always that our prayers and penances are not for God but for us.