Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Sebastian, Martyr
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Fabian, Pope and Martyr
Gospel: Mk 2:23-28
The Lord of the Sabbath

We often encounter people who are rigidly bound by tradition and are unable to adapt, adhering only to the previously established norms. They are like the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. When they saw Jesus’ disciples passing through the wheat fields on the Sabbath and, because they were extremely hungry, violated the regulations regarding the Sabbath set forth in the Mosaic Law by plucking ears of wheat to eat, the Pharisees accused them of breaking the Sabbath law (cf. Mk 2:23-24).

In Jesus’ time, many people did not believe that He was the Messiah. In their view, Jesus was merely the son of a poor carpenter (Joseph, Jesus’ foster father, was a carpenter), rather than the political Messiah they had been eagerly awaiting, one who would deliver them from the hands of the Romans. As a result, they looked down on Him. Therefore, they preferred to cling rigidly to the Mosaic Law rather than accept all that God was proclaiming to them through Jesus Christ. Sometimes, we, like the people who lived in the same era as Jesus, would rather hold fast to rules and regulations, live within the boundaries of our self-imposed rules, and judge and condemn others according to our own wills, instead of completely entrusting ourselves to God, carrying out God’s holy will in all things, strictly adhering to all that Christ has taught us, discerning God’s holy will through all the experiences in our lives, and living out the peace and joy that the Gospel brings us through our practical actions.

Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian and Pope St. Fabian. Pope St. Fabian was martyred during the period of persecution of the Church by the Roman Empire. St. Sebastian, who lived in the same era as him, frequently visited imprisoned Christians, bringing them food and comfort, and encouraging them to persevere in their faith. Later, his identity was discovered, and he was executed by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Both of these saints bore witness to our Lord Jesus Christ in different ways and lived out the spirit of the Gospel. Similarly, we should be inspired by the Holy Spirit to boldly bear witness to the true faith.

Pope St. Fabian, St. Sebastian, pray for us, so that we may have the courage to bear witness to Christ. Amen.

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