Gospel: Luke 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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Timothy Frohueign RIP.
Reflection:
In Jesus’ teaching held in the synagogue, one of His listeners stood out: the man with a withered right hand. The Gospel did not give any reason why this man was there. Did he come for healing? Mark Arnold, Additional Needs Ministry Director for Urban Saints’ pioneering additional needs ministry, is of the view that the man went to the synagogue to be taught by the Lord: “The teaching came before the healing”. It is only when one has been taught by the Lord that His listeners – such as this man – are drawn to Him and are healed. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees who were jealous of Jesus. We too can sometimes experience the withering of our spirit, of our heart. The healed man’s experience prods us to listen to Jesus, to come closer to Him so that He may also reveal to us His Divine Mercy. This story reminds us too of the presence of people with disabilities in our parish community. They too desire to be taught and healed by Jesus.
- How can you make our church more welcoming to people with disabilities?
- “Lead me, Lord, in your justice”, goes our Responsorial Psalm. In what ways can you promote justice for those with disabilities?
- “Stretch out your hand”, Jesus told the man with a withered hand. How can you become an agent of Jesus’ healing to those with disabilities?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Grant us a humble and honest heart so that we may be open to Your truth and healing and share these especially with our disabled sisters and brothers. Amen.
Sincerely,
Pietro
