First Sunday after Trinity

2 Corinthians 4: 5-12 Mark 2: 23 - 3: 6

I remember how, many years ago, there was great debate about working on Sundays. It was at this time that supermarkets opened their doors for Sunday shopping. ‘Why was it needed at all’ was the argument. ‘Surely we can go one day without having to go shopping?’ Yet, today, it is almost second nature for many people. Almost anything can be purchased on a Sunday for by going one step further 24-hour shopping is readily possible on the internet.

In the gospel reading the disciples of Jesus were plucking heads of grain to nibble. This was not allowed on the sabbath. Many Jewish laws regulated about what could, or could not, be done on the sabbath. It was evident that here the disciples were in the wrong. The Pharisees who witnessed this event challenged Jesus because he did not try to stop this blatant breach of the law. In reply Jesus said that ‘the sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath’ and this was the basis for his defence.

But we need to look at ourselves here. We profess to be Christians, to love God and to follow and obey his Son Jesus Christ. As we follow our Christian path we encounter various rules and regulations which govern our Christian living. Sunday, and our observance of Sunday, is important. But there is much more than Sunday observance. If we were to abstain from work, attend church, say our prayers, read our Bible, and not indulge in any pleasures, being a Christian would be very easy.

Being a Christian is far more than observing just a few hard rules. Observing them involves setting to one side love, forgiveness, and service. This would bring our faith into a decline. Just mentioning service makes me think of the service industries that we rely upon for health, safety and welfare, let alone the TV.

Reflecting upon the laws and the can do’s and the cannot do’s, it is possible that by looking at Christianity and our Christian living, it comprises of far more doing’s than refraining’s. To do things in the cause of mercy and necessity is to do things for God. We must not stop helping others, in whatever way, in the name of religion. For to do so is not religion at all. People, wherever, matter far more than rituals and systems. The best way to worship God is to help humankind.

This is where the importance of the sabbath lies. In much of what we do we worship God, through our actions and interplay. To set aside some time, anytime, to remember God, to reflect upon his grace, love, and mercy, to read a passage of the Bible, and speak to him, all of these things mark us out as Christian, as believers in God and followers of his Son. In all of these things we also help our fellow humans. Rules and laws are there to be followed and observed, so too is the love that we hold for our fellow humans.

Collect for the First Sunday after Trinity

O God,

the strength of all those who put their trust in you,

mercifully accept our prayers

and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature

we can do no good thing without you,

grant us the help of your grace,

that in the keeping of your commandments

we may please you both in will and deed;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.