One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along.
trooping through a wheat field
brings a single-file slowness
or a broad swath of destructionwith slowness sets in hunger
by the end of a line the best is gone
intended or not foraging widensshould the field owner arrive
there is certain conflict ahead
but then it’s Sabbath and they can’twith no surveillance cameras in sight
we should be good to go on what seems right
and that is settled by those with the lightgleaning is a gateway action
to turn inequality to revolution
eat or don’t eat at your peril
What makes for a proper fast has been looked at and now we turn to the other side—what makes for proper eating.
Dietary laws have been important in the life of Israel from Moses onward. When combined with Sabbath, the questions joined are heightened.
Those who have followed Mark so far know that travel is not only broadening but carries the danger of misinterpretation between differing traditions and perspectives. So we are ready for a fairly straight-forward event to escalate.
The synagogue is a familiar place for Jesus and his students to go on a Sabbath. Imagine that has been the case again. Suppose the Jesus cultus has been to do its usual work of teaching. They are returning to their place of lodging where a review of the day would likely happen.
Regardless of whether the disciples were intentionally confronting Sabbath rules through the ambiguous action of seed picking (was it just to have a little something to chew on or was attention drawn to picking and carrying grain home?) we have the set-up for one more distinction to be drawn between the prevalent religious understandings of the day and this group of announcers of another way.
Jesus’ followers are beginning to get a sense that there is no safe sanctuary, particularly on a weekly Sanctuary Day. No variant will go unaccused.