Daily Gospel Reflection
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September 6, 2025
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.”
As I reflect on today’s gospel, I’m struck by how obvious Jesus’ actions seem: God’s love and care for us never cease, even on the Sabbath. Just as parents of newborns continue to nurture their children without pause, God’s love is constant and unyielding.
However, viewed through a historical lens, Jesus’ actions were revolutionary. The Pharisees, the leading religious authorities of His time, enforced strict rules regarding the Sabbath, prohibiting any form of work—whether agricultural tasks or domestic chores. When Jesus and the disciples picked heads of grain on the Sabbath, it was seen as a significant violation of these traditions.
In truth, Jesus restored the original purpose of the Sabbath: a day of rest and celebration of God’s love and creation, rather than strict rule-following. Mark 2:27 beautifully captures this: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
My lasting takeaway from today’s gospel is gratitude for Jesus and the redefinition of the Sabbath. Loving others on this holy day is not work; it is a reflection of God’s essence. I recall how, especially during college, I treated Sundays as a frantic race to finish homework and chores before the week began. I stressed about getting everything done instead of taking time to rest and celebrate God.
Now, I embrace the Sabbath as a sacred opportunity for joy and connection. This shift has been transformative, allowing me to experience the fullness of divine love. As my confirmation saint, Saint Augustine, wisely noted, “Our hearts are restless until they find rest in thee.” The Sabbath is not just a day of rest but a joyful celebration of God’s unwavering love.
Prayer
God of truth and justice, you call us to hold your law firmly in our hearts—not only its words, but its spirit. Help us to let your law of love be imprinted on our hearts so that it may not be a second thought, but a fundamental norm. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Eleutherius was an abbot who led a monastery in sixth-century Italy, and was known for working miracles.
One story tells of him healing a boy of demonic possession. The boy was brought to his monastery for care and education, and for a long time exhibited no signs of his possession.
Eleutherius said, “Now that the devil has to deal with the servants of God he does not dare come near the child.” As soon as he had said this, the boy was convulsed by the demon. Eleutherius was ashamed for having boasted and commanded the whole community to fast and pray until the boy was healed.
At another time, Eleutherius is said to have raised a dead man back to life.
St. Eleutherius died in 585 in the monastery he led, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Eleutherius, you battled the devil and worked miracles—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Eleutherius is available for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Last accessed April 3, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
