Reach out to others whenever and whatever

 

“LORD THAT I MAY SEE”

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY.

Gospel

Mark 3:1-6

Is it against the law on the sabbath day to save life?

1.      Jesus went into a synagogue,

2.      and there was a man there who had a withered hand.

3.      And they were watching him to see if he would cure him on the sabbath day,

4.      hoping for something to use against him.

5.      He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up out in the middle!’

6.      Then he said to them, ‘Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?’

7.      But they said nothing.

8.      Then, grieved to find them so obstinate,

9.      he looked angrily round at them,

10. and said to the man,

11. ‘Stretch out your hand.’

12. He stretched it out and his hand was better.

13. The Pharisees went out

14. and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him,

15. discussing how to destroy him.

 

We will never understand the Gospel or Jesus unless we realise that God loves each person with an infinite love. It was this love that made God’s Son become a human being and live among us. Now God can love us in a human way and we too can approach God in a way suitable to our nature as human beings. God’s love is like an ocean. There is no limit.

Here is a man suffering from a withered hand. He would have been destitute because he lived in a society in which people lived by the work of their hands. The love Jesus had for him made him reach to him whatever anyone else thought.

The Sabbath day was a day dedicated to God. There is nothing sacred simply by resting from work. It is the worship of God that makes it a holy day. If it is the day humans turn particularly to God, it is also the day that God turns particularly towards human. He turns towards them to bless them. God came in the form of Jesus. Therefore, Jesus reached out and healed his brother.

We should imitate Jesus on the Sabbath. It is a day to reach out to others in need.