Plucking Grain

God is Just and Merciful

Justice and Sabbath Laws

Deuteronomy 23:25 The Message

24-25 When you enter your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat all the grapes you want until you’re full, but you may not put any in your bucket or bag. And when you walk through the ripe grain of your neighbor, you may pick the heads of grain, but you may not swing your sickle there.

For Reflection

Following the law is often difficult.  Neither our laws nor the Mosaic law could fit every emerging circumstance.  The Scripture illustrates one of those "exceptions" to the Sabbath law. However, no matter how many rules we devise we cannot possibly foresee all circumstances which would challenge the veracity of the law.

That's why when asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus answered, love. Acting out of the quality of love God shows to us, perfects us. Acing out of love gives us freedom from the letter of the law to follow the intent of God's law. When acting out of love without an expectation of a return, we give to others, and we give to God.

Pray

Pray to embrace God's love. Pray to extend that love to others. The act giving is a prayer to God.

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