Matthew 12:3-4
He said to the them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat?"
In an ethics course I took back in college, the scenario was posed, "You have a sick child. The medicine is in the pharmacy which is closed. If the medicine isn't given soon, the child could die. What do you do?" I don't remember the answer back then, but most would probably break into the pharmacy to get the medicine regardless of the unlawful consequences. The overall good outweighs the cost.
Today's reading from Matthew finds Jesus and his disciples in a field of wheat. They were hungry, but it was the Sabbath and they were forbidden to eat. But they were awfully hungry so they ate some of the grain. The Pharisees saw this and called Jesus out. Jesus gave them an old testament lesson of David eating in the temple that was only permitted for the priests. David's men were hungry after battle and nourishment was necessary. Jesus was trying to teach the Pharisees and his followers that sacrifice is appropriate, but mercy is greater.
I often find myself as the 'rule follower' vs making exceptions to the rule. We all have to follow rules, but sometimes we have to step outside of our comfort zone in order to show mercy and love for others. Don't be afraid to step out of your zone today in order to follow the spirit of the law while keeping respect for it.
