The Gospel Proclamation Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger, he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship The Jewish people and their spiritual leaders viewed Jesus as a Rabbi. He often argued within the framework of rabbinical interpretation of the Law. Yet Jesus could not help but offend the teachers of the Law, for He was not content to pose His interpretation alongside theirs but taught the people “as One who had authority, and not as their scribes.” In Jesus the same Word of God that had resounded on Mount Sinai to give the written Law to Moses, made Himself heard anew on the Mount of the Beatitudes. Jesus did not abolish the Law but fulfilled it by giving its ultimate interpretation in a divine way, “You have heard that it was said to the men of old ... But I say to you ...” With this same divine authority He disavowed certain human traditions of the Pharisees that were “making void the word of God.” (C.C.C. 581)
Gaze at my sonship “To help or to harm? To save a man’s life or to destroy it?” Today Jesus asks us the very same question. Our attitude towards our brethren - neighbours. Do we take trouble to see how the poor eat, clothe or are properly sheltered? Are we ready to make their sufferings ours? As ardent followers of Jesus Christ do we let those divine values to bear fruit through us? Or are we obstructing Him, the values of His Kingdom, to reach others through us? Do we see to our own comforts and priorities while postponing the consolation we can offer them in (unconditional) love? Is our faith really active with actions “ (James 2:26) or is it dead like that of the Pharisees?
Prayer Starter Let us see ourselves as You see us, that we may see You as You have promised and be fortunate according to Your Word.
