Gospel LK 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.
But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

Reflection

On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught,
and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.
The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath
so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.

The scribes and Pharisees definitely had a holier than thou attitude.
But rather than judging them, I would be better served by examining myself to recall when I too have closely watched others to see if they were going to do what was right or wrong in my eyes.

But he realized their intentions
and said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up and stand before us.”
And he rose and stood there.

Jesus taught the ways of God through His words and actions. He knew He was going to heal the man’s withered hand and He wasn’t about to do it secretly.
He said to the man, “Come up and stand before us.” Herein lies a lesson: We should always do God’s work openly for all to see and we should be sure to give God the glory.

Then Jesus said to them,
“I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”

We should observe the sabbath law, for the sabbath is meant to be a day of rest. But, the law of God’s love always supersedes the “letter of the law.”

If someone reaches out to you because their family is without food, God most assuredly wants you to bring them a box of food (whether it’s a Sunday or any other day) so that His children don’t go hungry.

Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.”
He did so and his hand was restored.
But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

In healing the man’s withered hand on the sabbath, Jesus taught that there is no “wrong time” to be merciful; the basic duty of every Christian is to make the love of God known…..every day.

“And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’, you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7