Psalm 110: 1-4
Mark 3: 1-6 Full Readings
Is it Lawful to Save Life or to Kill?
Brethren, from the first reading, we see that Jesus Christ is the eternal and only priest who is the mediator between God and human beings. The First reading compares Christ and Melchizedek. Melchizedek was both king and priest, which is unique according to the Old Testament traditions. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” in the Hebrew language. The word Salem means “peace” (the Hebrew word shalom), so that Melchizedek is “king of peace” as well as “king of righteousness.” “Righteousness” and “peace” are often found together in Scripture (Is 32:17; Ps 85:10; Ps 72:7; Jas 3:17–18; Heb 12:10–11).
There is no record of the genealogy of Melchizedek, which is significant because most great persons in the Old Testament have their ancestry identified. It was especially important that the priests be able to prove their ancestry (cf Ezra 2:61– 63; Neh 7:63–65). Melchizedek was not an angel or some superhuman creature. He was a real man, a real king, and a real priest in a real city. But as far as the record is concerned, he was not born, nor did he die. In this way, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Though Jesus Christ did die, Calvary was not the end; for he rose from the dead and today lives in “the power of an endless life.” Jesus has the priesthood not like that Aaron, but a high priesthood, divinely instituted by God, and it's our pride that we share in his priesthood.
Jesus as a high and perfect fulfilled his role with perfection when he was still on earth, and after ascension, he fulfils his priesthood roles through his chosen ones on earth. One of the priest's roles is to help people heal spiritually and physically in different ways including preaching and standing against any law and anything that destroys life. This was one of the major things done by Jesus in his earthly ministry. As we see in today's gospel, while teaching the real meaning of Sabbath, he asks the Pharisees and Scribes, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Though the said nothing, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on Sabbath just before their eyes. By this, he not only broke the law that forbid people to do anything on Sabbath even saving but he also gave us the true meaning of Sabbath and in which way we should interpret the law (with love and mercy). Sabbath is made for man not man for Sabbath.
Taking "our sabbath rest (Sunday for us Christians) is right and just and a way of expressing honor to God for all that he has done for us in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Since the time of the first Apostles, Christians have traditionally celebrated Sunday as the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10; Acts 20:7; Luke 24:30; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2) to worship together around the table of the Lord (the Eucharist or Lord's Supper) and to commemorate God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ and the new work of creation accomplished through Christ's death and resurrection. However, such "rest" does not exempt us from our love for our neighbor, from doing good, from saving life and from showing mercy and charity to others. If we truly love the Lord above all else, then the love of God will overflow to love of neighbor as well, and thus have no excuse whatsoever reason not to do good even on a Sunday. Answering the question above, yes, is it lawful to save life and not to kill on Sabbath.
Brethren, do you honor the Lord in the way you celebrate Sunday, the Lord's Day and in the way you treat your neighbor? Let us put charity and mercy above every law, even the law of Sabbath.
Let us Pray
Lord Jesus, in your victory over sin and death on the cross and in your resurrection, you give us the assurance of sharing in the eternal rest of heaven. Transform my heart with your love that I may freely serve my neighbor for his good and find joy and refreshment in the celebration of Sunday as the Lord's Day. Amen
Be blessed.
About the origin of the one tenth tithe.
From today's first reading we can see from where the church teaching about paying tithe of 1/10 to the church and to help the priests. Because of his sudden appearance and disappearance in the Genesis passage, introduced by no account of his ancestry or progeny, Melchizedek is taken in the apocalyptic writings of the first century (for instance the manuscript 11QMelchizedek from Qumran) to be somehow a heavenly figure, and therefore superior to Abraham. Melchizedek was not only superior to Abraham but also to all priests of all Old Testament priests because of how he appeared and disappeared. This superiority is confirmed in Hebrews 7.4 by the fact that Abraham on this occasion gave Melchizedek a share of the spoils of battle, a tenth share which is understood as a liturgical ‘tithe’ like the ceremonial contribution made to priests. This is interpreted as Abraham’s acceptance that Melchizedek is both a priest and superior to himself. Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek is a powerful example of faithfulness and obedience to God and thanksgiving for the victory he had got from the war between allied kings. By giving a tenth of all he possessed, Abraham was demonstrating his commitment to God and His commandments. We to when we give tithe, we not only show our faithfulness and love to God but also our thanksgiving for what God has done for us. We are also contributing to the proclamation of the Word of God and helping priest and the church in general. Do you pay your tithe?
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