Hey everybody,
I was reading a passage from the Bible, Luke 13:10-17, and I don't know if I'm interpreting what Jesus said right. In this passage, Jesus healed a lady on the Sabbath. But, the leader of the synagogue said that no work is supposed to be done on the sabbath. So, Jesus says in verses 15-16,
"Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
I interpret this as Jesus not wanting us to be fundamentalist Christians. He doesn't want us to concentrate on every single detail, such as not working on the sabbath, and instead focus on our faith. If this is right, can this be applied to how we fast sometimes? Like we don't have to read the ingredients of every single food product to make sure it's fasting.
Thanks and God bless.
Comments
-but i do NOT think this is very 'right' u may need to check with an abouna-priest?
I know that this term is now being abused in the West, as it is now associated with politics and false religion. However, the better term to use in such areas is "fanatics".
I believe what you meant is to criticise the literal application of the law and the commands, what the Church calls the "Pharisee" approach to the teachings. Every outward sign, whether moves during the liturgy, words uttered in a prayer, a certain custom ... etc... must prompt the believers to dig deeper and think about the purpose. This should NOT mean however that once we know what the true purpose is we should simply abondon it, nor is being still "conservative" in applying the commandments a sin. Indeed, many Fathers who led holy lives were very accurate in their application of their spiritual laws. It is also not an invitation for negligence and to "take it easy".
For example, the monks have a certain outward appearance like the back robe, the "2alansewah" (head cover) with so many crosses, the belt they have under their clothes, the beard. All these are in themselves not contributing to their spiritual life, yet they are reminders to what they have to observe. They understand that the crosses on the head cover isa symbol that they should protect their thoughts and always meditate on the Cross, on the salvation. They know that wearing black, together with having being ordinated through a "prayer on the dead", means that they are dead from the world. The reason why they wear the belt is to remind them of the celbacy vow they have taken, and also is a symbol of their constant readiness to depart. All this they know, and maybe after a while it is engraved in their minds without the outward appearance. YET, THEY DO NOT ABONDON THESE OUTWARD APPEARANCES.
More importantly:
In addition, whenever the Lord breaks the Saturday, it has a theological meaning, and it should be read in this context. The Saturday is the day in which God has rested after the creation. This period of rest is not of physical nature, God forbid, but it is being pleased by the new creation that came out of destruction and emptiness. Yet this rest was cut short with the sin of Adam, and the creation needed a renewal and reinstatement by the Savior.
The commandment concerning observing the Sabbath was for mankind to make them direct their attention to the lost paradise and to the salvation to come. This is the deeper meaning of the commandment. Yet God the Logos never rested since the sin of Adam, and in His incarnation, and His life on earth, He "broke" the commandment to show the Pharisees that He is here to bring salvation to the whole World, and this is the real rest.
The example given to the Pharisees about the donkey and the ox and how it compares to the healing of a woman can be taken in the literal sense, which is totally acceptable, but definitely has a deeper meaning. For being bound by Satan means to be bound by sin, to perish, and nothing except the Cross and the blood (Eucharist) can save mankind who are represented by the woman.
I kinda agree with mnc_hnn. You should check with your priest. If it helps you any, I can ask my priest if you want.
love lots,
CopticChica21