Today's story follows immediately on yesterday's words of Jesus inviting those carrying heavy burdens to come to him for comfort and relief. In Jesus' time these burdens came from trying to observe the Mosaic Law. Today we see Jesus and his disciples walking through a cornfield. The disciples were feeling a little hungry so they began plucking ears of corn to eat. Nothing wrong with that. Gleaning, especially where the poor were concerned, was not regarded as stealing. So the Pharisees were not upset by the plucking of the corn but because it was done on a sabbath day. Most manual work was forbidden on the sabbath. In the narrow minds of the Pharisees what the disciples were doing contravened the sabbath requirements. Jesus would have none of this nonsense and he gave two examples which the Pharisees would find difficult to criticise, one involving King David and the other the priests in the Temple. But, more importantly, Jesus drew attention to a saying from the prophet Hosea: "It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice." What this clearly means is that the measure of our behaviour in God's eyes is not our observance of law but the degree of love and compassion we have for our brothers and sisters. Legalism and small-mindedness can very easily infect our Catholic life. But, there is a very demanding law to which we are all called to subscribe - the law of love. It allows of no exceptions. This practice brings benefit both to the giver and the receiver.