7-Sep-15

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."
Jesus had the ability to heal the man's hand, and God's mercy called for him to do so.
"The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely
to see if he would cure on the sabbath..."
Blinded by their fear of Jesus' popularity, the scribes and Pharisees were afraid that they would lose control over the people. They wanted to be rid of Jesus.
"Then Jesus said to them,
I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
rather than to do evil....."
It is a simple question with an simple answer:
It is always right to do good rather than evil.
"Looking around at them all, he then said to him,
“Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored."
It takes courage born of faith to look punishment straight in the eye and still do the right thing.
"But they became enraged
and discussed together what they might do to Jesus."
It was their fear of Our Lord that caused the scribes and Pharisees to become "enraged" and begin to plot "what they might do to Jesus."
Fear is the birthplace of anger, and anger often leads to injustice.
Anger, however, is also an opportunity for self examination. When I become angry, I need to ask, "What is making me afraid? Do I feel I have lost control of the situation and it has left me feeling powerless?"
When we are able to identify our fear and pray, anger begins to disappear.
Perhaps, if the scribes and Pharisees had recognized their fear and prayed for guidance, they would have seen Jesus as a blessing rather than as a threat that needed to be eliminated.
"God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid." Isaiah 12:2