Sunday of Creation (G)

Matthew 12:1-14
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Mt 12:1-14). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus was going through grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and what do people do when they are hungry? People get something to eat. So naturally, the disciples pluck heads of grain and eat them. This begins an argument about whether we should be able to feed ourselves on the Sabbath. Should we be forced to starve because God rested on the Seventh Day?

Then from there Jesus enters the synagogue. He finds another problem with creation. There is a man with a withered hand or deformed hand. The people say it is not lawful to heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus steps forward and asks, "So is it lawful to do Good on the Sabbath?" He heals the man's hand restoring creation.

In the rituals and even the crippled we can see the fallenness of Creation. God created everything good and on the Seventh Day He rested. But Creation is still given to us so we can eat, and take care of one another. God provides food for the hungry. God provides healing to the sick. But for those who have withered hands or amputated limbs we look to the resurrection.

Jesus Christ came to die for the forgiveness of our sins. He was truly greater than the temple as he was torn down and rose again. He is the Lord of the Sabbath, the one who gives us true rest. He is also the one who heals us from our greatest sickness, sin. He is even our Resurrection and Life as he will raise us on the Last Day. This is our Great Creator and Redeemer.