363 THE SABBATH IS THE DAY OF THE LORD OF MERCIES AND A DAY TO HONOR GOD

YOUCAT Lesson 363

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

363  How does Jesus deal with the Sabbath?

Jesus observes the Sabbath, but at the same time he deals with it very liberally, as one who has complete command over it: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”  (Mark 2:27).  [2173]

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath by Norman Brice. …363

As (Jesus) was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.  At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”  He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?  How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?”  Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man,  not man for the sabbath.   That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”—Mark 2: 23-28

The fact that Jesus claims the right to heal on the Sabbath and to interpret the Sabbath laws mercifully poses a dilemma for his Jewish contemporaries:  Either Jesus is the Messiah sent by God, which makes him “Lord even of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28), or else he is merely a man, in which case his actions on the Sabbath are a sin against the law.

[2173]

  

* I. THE SABBATH DAY

 2173 The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day.(Compare Mark 1:21; John 9:16.)⁹⁸ He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."( Mark 2:27.)⁹⁹ With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than killing.( Compare Mark 3:4.)¹⁰⁰ The sabbath is the day of the Lord of mercies and a day to honor God.( Compare Matthew 12:5; John 7:23. )¹⁰¹ "The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."( Mark 2:28.)¹⁰² –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition