Holy Martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphtonius, Elpidephorus, and Anempodistus
Read
2 Corinthians 3:12-18; Luke 6:1-10
Picking and eating the grain as Jesus and the disciples did was expected of travellers in those days. As it was done on the Sabbath, the Pharisees saw it as transgressing the Law at least three times: they picked the grains (harvesting), rubbing them to get the chaff off (threshing), and blowing the chaff away (winnowing). Never mind that they were hungry.
The Pharisees could doubt that Jesus healed others. But for them, it was considered work and hence cannot be done on a Sabbath. The Lord tested them simply. It becomes clear to us who read this account that the real human needs of hunger and healing need to be fulfilled—even on a Sabbath.
How many times do we find ourselves on the wrong side of love and mercy? Let’s ask for the enlarging of our heart that we may be filled with His love and mercy and become fountains unto others—no matter what day of the week—every day.