Baldwin of Ford (?-c.1190), Cistercian abbot, then Archbishop of Canterbury The Sacrament of the altar, 3, 2 (SC 94 rev.)

Statue of Baldwin of Forde from the exterior of Canterbury Cathedral

           

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Tuesday of the Second week in Ordinary Time

"The Sacrament of the altar"

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 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, 

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."   

Commentary of the day : 

Baldwin of Ford (?-c.1190), Cistercian abbot, then Archbishop of Canterbury 

The Sacrament of the altar, 3, 2 (SC 94 rev.) 

"The sabbath was made for man"

Blessed repose and a holy satisfaction are what make for true beatitude and of this the Sabbath and the manna are symbols. When he had given rest and satiety to his people with the Sabbath and the manna, thus prefiguring the true blessedness he will give to those who obey, the Lord rebukes for his disobedience the man who might cause them to lose these most desirable possessions: “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and laws?” (Ex 16,28). 

After this question of the Lord's, Moses invites his brethren to consider God's gifts: “Take note! The Lord has given you the Sabbath. That is why on the sixth day he gives you food for two days so that you may consent to serve him.” This warning means that God will give rest for their labours to his elect and the consolations of this present life in addition to those of the life to come. 

But in addition to this, two forms of life are suggested to us by this passage: the active life in which we now have to work, and the contemplative life for which we are working and in which we shall be completely available to the contemplation of God. For although the contemplative life belongs especially to the world to come, yet it must be represented even in this life by the holy Sabbath rest. Concerning this rest Moses adds: “On the Sabbath day everyone is to stay home and no one is to go out.” In other words: Everyone is to rest in their house and not go out for any kind of work on the Sabbath. 

This teaches us that during times of contemplation we should remain within ourselves, nor go out by means of forbidden desires but collect our whole intention “in purity of heart” [as Saint Benedict says] to think on God alone and love him only.

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