The Law vs Love

Gospel MK 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath,
his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain.
At this the Pharisees said to him,
“Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”
He said to them,
“Have you never read what David did
when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry?
How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest
and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat,
and shared it with his companions?”
Then he said to them,
“The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.
That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Pharisees were all about about enforcing and interpreting the law.  Holiness for the Pharisees meant following the recipe for Holiness.  Follow all the rules better than the rest and you would be holier than the rest.  Unfortunately the Catholic church, of which I am a supporter, can act like the Pharisees.  Some Popes and some priests can act like the Pharisees - harsh judges and critical words for those who don't tow the line. It's why the topics of abortion and homosexuality are so divisive in the Catholic church - the Church has made doctrine more important than people.  That's why I really like Pope Francis.  He's more like Jesus.  He is more concerned about people and what is in their hearts than condemning people for missing the mark.  As a Dad, I've painfully made this transition.  When my boys were young, I was personally offended when they disobeyed and they paid the price by enduring my raging outbursts. A scar on Frankie's hand is a constant reminder of how harsh and short-sighted I was as a parent at one time. I'm a much better parent now that I have a better understanding of what it means to be a holy dad - to love my kids just the same, maybe even more, when they fall short.