Feeding the Hungry will never become a unlawful activity at any moment of time

Gospel Thoughts

*Second Week : Tuesday*

*GOSPEL - Mk 2:23-28*

*First Reading - Heb 6:10-20*

*Feeding the Hungry will never become a unlawful activity at any moment of time*

*1) Feeding the Hungry  never a unlawful activity at any moment in History*

Feeding of the hungry is considered as one of the noblest tasks of human activity. 

It is one of holiest tasks because the nature of the activity. Only those people who have a heart and mind that of Jesus can do such a great activity. 

So it is one of the great tasks. 

*2) Sabbath, unlawful activity and feeding the Hungry*

In today's Gospel all these three issues appear 

One group speaks about the unlawful things on the Sabbath day 

Another group tries to see the meaning of Sabbath from the preview of the rules and regulations

Jesus is trying to give a new and more practical meaning for the Sabbath, by highlighting what exactly we need to do on the Sabbath day to make really holy and meaningful.

Sabbath is not merely restricted to few rules and regulations. The real and genuine meaning of Sabbath goes beyond the spirit the laws and regulations

*3) Even the Holiest place is used for feeding the Hungry*

King David and his companions ate the bread from the Holy place which was reserved only for the priest. 

Since feeding the hungry takes a primary place in the ministry of Jesus, this becomes one of the important things of holiness itself. 

So Holy place is used for one of the holiest things. 

*4) Feeding the Hungry is the Holiest of all activities* 

In the final judgement scene, in the Gospel of Matthew, the issue is about the treatment about the poor and hungry 

Jesus blesses and rewards those who were very faithful in feeding the hungry and helping the poor. 

Feeding of the hungry will definitely produces a positive effect, which helps a person to grow in his spirituality.

*5) The real spirit of Sabbath is to feed*

On this perticular day we are spiritually fed 

For Christians sabbath is a Sunday, the Day of the Lord. On this day we are fed with the spiritual food - the body and blood of Jesus 

Jesus Himself offers His body and blood to all the faithful in the Eucharist. So Jesus offers Himself to the Hungry humanity to be fed by His own body and blood

*6) Rejecting to feed the Hungry on the Sabbath day is unlawful*

The very fact a person rejects a hungry person to help or to feed, the real purpose of the Sabbath is defeated

Rejecting another needy person on the Sabbath day is the most unlawful thing than anything else. 

So we must do what is good, beneficial and that which promotes the unity and brotherhood. That is the real spirit of Sabbath.

*7) Fasting is not for God, it is for us*

Fasting on the Sabbath is not to make God more Holy. Rather it is for us to become more holy 

So a deed, which contributes to the growth of the  holiness of the person, such a deed will never become a unlawful deed. 

That is why good deeds are always right and such things can be done on Sabbath day 

*Let's us observe the Sabbath by doing lots of good deeds and not merely regulating ourselves to the set of rules and regulations.*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*