A homily on Mark 2:23 – 28 : Mercy Over Ritual (20-1-26)

 A reflective Meditation on Mark 2:23 – 28 that reveals how mercy fulfils the law of God in Scripture, the Old Testament, and daily family and religious life.) 20-1-26)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

Once there was a monastery on a quiet hill. Life there was demanding, and the rules were very strict. Silence was valued so deeply that people used to say even birds seemed careful not to sing too loudly. During meditation time, nothing was allowed to disturb the stillness. Boards were placed everywhere saying that the bell must not be rung at that hour. One afternoon, while the monks sat in deep silence, the bell at the main gate suddenly rang. The sound cut through the calm, and everyone knew that a rule had been broken.

After a brief moment, the monk in charge calmly stood up, quietly called another brother, and together they walked to the gate, where they found an injured person lying on the ground. There had been an accident nearby. Without asking questions or offering explanations, the monk cleaned the wounds, brought water, and arranged help. Only after the injured person was safe did he return to the monastery. Later, when the head monk heard about it, he said softly, “Silence is precious, but mercy is greater.”

This story leads us gently into today’s Gospel passage from Mark 2:23 to 28. Jesus and his disciples are walking through the grain fields on the Sabbath. They are hungry, so they begin to pluck the ears of grain to eat (Mark 2:23). The Pharisees immediately object and ask why they are doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath (Mark 2:24). What appears to be a small act becomes a serious accusation, not because of harm done, but because a rule seems to have been crossed.

As we know, hunger does not wait for permission. It comes quietly and honestly, like the bell ringing at the monastery gate. Jesus responds by recalling David, who entered the house of God when he and his companions were hungry and ate the bread of the Presence, even though it was reserved for priests alone (Mark 2:25 to 26; 1 Samuel 21:1 to 6). God did not condemn David for this act. Instead, life was safeguarded, mercy was honoured, and the law revealed its deeper purpose: to serve the human person.

The Sabbath itself was given as a gift. In the Old Testament, God commands the Sabbath as a day of rest and renewal, reminding the people that they were once slaves and are now free (Exodus 20:8 to 11; Deuteronomy 5:15). It was never meant to become a burden. Jesus therefore speaks with clarity when he says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). With these words, he restores the true meaning of holiness, where obedience flows from love and not from fear.

The saints understood this truth deeply. Saint Vincent de Paul once taught his community that when they left prayer to serve the poor, they were not leaving God behind but meeting Him in a different way. For him, the cry of the suffering was never an interruption to holiness; it was holiness itself. His life reflects the teaching of Jesus in this Gospel: mercy does not weaken faith but makes it real.

This Gospel speaks gently to both family and  to religious communities. Families are called to uphold prayer, tradition, and discipline, yet daily life brings interruptions. A child may be restless during prayer, or a family member may return home tired or troubled. Religious communities also live under strict rules and schedules, yet life often brings unexpected needs; a sick brother/ sister, a visitor in danger, or urgent service for the poor. In all these moments, faith is tested. Do we insist on the rule, or do we respond to human need with compassion? When families and religious communities choose patience, understanding, and mercy, faith becomes alive and radiant. A short prayer offered with love often fulfils God’s law more than many words spoken without care.

Jesus ends this passage with authority and tenderness by saying, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). These words assure us that whenever mercy guides our actions, Christ himself walks with us.

Lord Jesus, let me see You in those in need.

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