The Feast of St Agnes | Tuesday 21 January 2025

Today is Tuesday the 21st of January, the feast of Saint Agnes, in the 2nd week of Ordinary Time.

Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. The most important thing for me to do now, as I enter into prayer, is to let go for a moment, to let go of my own concerns, my own worries and fears and reluctance, and let myself be led by God, trusting that God, who loves me, will lead me into life.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 2:23-28

One sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."

The Pharisees were so eager not to break the rules that they lost sight of the real meaning of the commandments. In this case the will of God, that men and women should rest and enjoy the Sabbath, was not achieved. They failed to understand that the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath. Where do you see this played out in the world today? Perhaps in your church, or community… or even, in your own life…

The Sabbath was meant to be good news, a break, a release, a liberation – freedom from the burdens of work and time to be attentive to God. Have we lost, do you think, that sense of the Sabbath as good news? Is it good news that you need to hear in your life?

Jesus speaks with authority in this passage. As you hear it again, listen carefully to his words and to what they say to you.

Hearing Jesus’s words again, what was your reaction? You might have become aware of anxiety about “breaking the rules”, or perhaps you got a sense that you need to take a break… or perhaps, you were just struck by the boldness of Jesus’s words. Whatever your reaction is, you can bring it before the Lord now, and speak as you would to a friend…

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.