Humanism vs. Legalism!

Friday, July 18, 2025

Ex 11:10-12:14; Mt 12:1-8

Today’s Gospel highlights humanism as the essence of religion.

The Pharisees invoke the Sabbath law, which forbids work on that holy day, to accuse Jesus’ disciples as the hungry ones begin to pluck and eat heads of grain while passing through grainfields. 

Jesus confronts the Pharisees with proof from the Scripture showing how David and his companions ate the consecrated bread strictly reserved for priests and how the priests were considered innocent though they broke the Sabbath when they performed temple duties.

The debate between Jesus and the Pharisees reveals a profound difference in the understanding of the Law of God. The Pharisaic understanding of the Law of God reduced it into a tool of oppression that sought to judge and punish the ignorant. For them, righteousness was equated with strict adherence to the Law. But Jesus’ understanding of God’s Law takes us to the root and spirit of it to prove that it cannot be legalistic. For Jesus, the essence of God’s Law lies in love, mercy, and compassion. 

In his response, Jesus makes it clear that God rejects a sacrifice that is disconnected from a compassionate heart. Here, he underlines the fact that the Law of God is merciful toward an urgent human need. For Jesus, following God’s law means to act in love. 

Here, Jesus also shows the purpose of God’s Law. It is to see as God sees or would have seen. Hence, it is to put a living person first, before lifeless policies or frameworks. 

Thus, in his exposition, Jesus redefines the Law of God as it culminates in love of the needy other. 

For Jesus, the flip side of God’s Law is humanism, not legalism. 

Let us pray that we may glorify God through our humanistic attitude. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar