Rules are for people

When you go back to church the next week, you might feel guilty. You know you're supposed to be there every week, and you wonder if you're a bad person because your family skipped.

In this week's Gospel (Mark 2:23-28), Jesus talks about rules like that and shares an important lesson: that God made rules to help us, not to scare us.

Jesus and His disciples walked through a field of grain and picked some to eat. People saw them and said, "What are you doing? It's Sunday, the Sabbath. You're not supposed to be doing work today!" Jesus reminded them of the Old Testament story of David, who let his soldiers get bread on the Sabbath because they were hungry. "The Sabbath was made for people; people weren't made for the Sabbath," Jesus said.

The people Jesus met knew about rules like that. They did exactly what the Bible said, scared God would hurt them if they didn't. One rule was not working on Sunday, the Sabbath -- so they never did.

Jesus understands we're not perfect. Sometimes, we break rules -- even about going to church. He might be sad about it, but He won't stop loving us. We always get another chance to do the right thing.

That's what Jesus told the people who were shocked that He let His friends pick grain on Sunday. He knew it was against the rules, but He also knew God made that rule to help people rest, not to scare them. God didn't want anyone to go hungry just because they had to work a little to get their food.

The next time your family skips church, think about this: It's never too late to try again. Jesus likes rules...but He LOVES us!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, teach me to try again when I make a mistake -- and remember you still love me! Amen.

(03-02-00)