In today’s reading we come across with the allegation from the Pharisees and Sadducees that our Lord’s blessed Apostles did not honor the Sabbath. The reason for the allegation is well known to each and every one of us. As and when Lord Jesus and the Apostles were going through the corn fields on a Sabbath day, the, Apostles began to pluck the ears of corn. According to Pharisees, the same action was a good proof to argue that the Disciples did not honor the Mosaic Law. We have evaluated many of the interpretations of the incident from different corners in the past. So let us leave them as it is and concentrate on the last verse of today’s reading.
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of Sabbath, (Verse 28.) Whenever our Lord introduced Himself, He has used the words ‘son of Man’. It is only because He has identified with manhood and while being full God He became full man too. (Except in the matter of sin) In the epistle to Ephesians, (Chapter 1 VS 20-23) St. Paul says: “Which he wrought in Christ , when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his right hand side in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might and domination and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in the that which is to come: And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to the head over all things to the church, which is the body, the fullness of him that fills all in all. “ The declaration of St. Peter about his master, the son of Man is like this: “Who did no sin, neither with guile found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2: 22)
In today’s reading we find our Savior and Redeemer claiming that He is the Lord also of the Sabbath. Let us try to learn more about the term Lord, though it is not a new term for us. By watching the four alphabets in ‘Lord’ let us seek more information about Lord.
The first alphabet ‘L’ stands for Logos. We all are sure that Logos means the word of God which got incarnated. St. John starts his gospel by declaring that “in the beginning was the Word and the word was with God and the word was God.” In Revelations 19:13, we read, “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called the word of God.” Prophet Zechariah declares that the word of God was with God. In Zechariah 13: 7 we read, “Awake O sword, against my shepherd and against the man that is my fellow, says the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered and I will turn my hand against the little ones.” See the prophecy of Prophet Isaiah (9:6) “For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called wonderful counselor the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of Peace. “ In Philippians 2: 6 we read, “Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” ‘L’ also stands for the divine, unselfish and Godly love.
The next letter ‘o’ stands for the natures of God Almighty like the omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience. Our Lord God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Unfortunately we often forget these truths and unknowingly we presume that we are the ablest, first to be considered for anything and everything. We often pretend to be omniscient, knowing all branches of wisdom. Such people won’t be willing to appreciate goodness in others. And they cannot accept the duly qualified and desirable individuals or their achievements. Let us always remember that God Almighty is the only omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.
The third alphabet in the word ‘R’ stands for right and righteousness. We could watch the perfection of righteousness in Lord Jesus only. Lord Jesus is the role model for all the faithful to be righteous. Literally righteous means virtuous, just, equitable and law abiding. We should not forget the truth that our Lord has reduced the Ten Commandments as two: Love your God and Love your brethren. Let us find ourselves how far we are righteous in observing these two commandments given unto us by our redeemer and Savior. Let us be sincere in our words, deeds and thoughts. Let the innocent and unselfish love guide us and lead us.
The forth and the final alphabet in ‘Lord’ is ‘D’ which stands for deism. The word deism is meant for the belief in the existence of God. We might claim that we are really faithful and we all believe in the existence of God Almighty. But most often our words and deeds are representing the absence of deism in us. One who could maintain the perfect deism, he or she will be dedicated, obedient, trustworthy and sincere. He or she will always have good repentance.
So let us conclude by confessing that our Lord is Logos, originated from God Almighty, incarnated and took flesh from Virgin Mary and offered him on the cross as ransom for the sins of the mankind. E is the only omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. He is the righteous. Our Lord wants us to be righteous always. Our Lord is the origin of deism. Unless and until we do not believe that our Lord God is existent, we cannot succeed in our human lives, though we claim that we are Christians.
May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Kottayam.
