18 January, 2023 | Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time I Christian Unity Week (18 - 25 Jan)

Gospel: Mk 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue.

There was a man there who had a withered hand.

They watched Jesus closely

to see if he would cure him on the sabbath

so that they might accuse him.

He said to the man with the withered hand,

"Come up here before us."

Then he said to the Pharisees,

"Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,

to save life rather than to destroy it?"

But they remained silent.

Looking around at them with anger

and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."

He stretched it out and his hand was restored.

The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel

with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

Reflection: 

How absurd it is, that the Lord of the Sabbath is repeatedly accused of breaking sabbath laws, yet it did not stop Jesus from doing good, from bringing life.  Jesus’ passion to bring about wellbeing and wholeness of life is often responded to by the Pharisees by plots to do away with His very life. By seeking to free people of all their infirmity and bondage from sin, Jesus wants to reveal the tender heart of God who does not delight in human suffering and misery. Thus, Jesus substitutes the whole burdensome laws into a single law of love. The man in today’s gospel had a withered hand but a heart open to faith while the Pharisees had perfect health but a cold, closed and hard hearts.  

Action Plan: 

Identify what part of you is withered? Pray over that part/area of your life. God knows and wants you to bring that out into your relationship with Him. 

Read and Reflect