God thinks only of the good of people

 

Welcome to my blog. Peace be with you.

Jesus in today’s reading puts aside human quibbles about the meaning of the law of the Sabbath in favour of reaching out in a timely fashion to one in need. To show love to others is  the fulfilment of all God’s laws.

Monday 26 October 2020

God thinks only of the good of people 

 

Gospel

Luke 13:10-17

Was it not right to untie this woman's bonds on the sabbath day?

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.

But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

 

Prayerful reflection

Jesus has come to liberate us totally. This liberation began wile on earth, but it was not completed then. the complete liberation will come with the inauguration of the Kingdom of God of which he will be all in all. Today he shows the supreme value of the human person. Doing good to human beings, reaching out to those in need is the purpose of God’s Law. This is precisely what God wants us to learn to do.

As Jesus asked on another occasion when the man with the withered hand was in the synagogue: is it right to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath? Naturally it is the will of God that we do good on the Sabbath. Here was this poor woman who had suffered for eighteen years with this affliction. Now Jesus sees her on the Sabbath. Is it right to leave here in her pain till the following day because this is a day of rest? Would that not be an evil thing to do?

Likewise, for us, reaching out to those in need with love is the fulfilment of the Law of God.