In today’s Gospel we see Jesus perform a miraculous healing for a poor woman who has been afflicted with a type of paralysis for multiple years. Though this healing is a wonderful gift from God who is showing his love and mercy for his people, the passage focuses on the leader of the synagogue where this is taking place. Jesus heals this woman on the Sabbath day, which according to Jewish law is a very holy day only meant for worship. It is a day that is very strict on not working, and by the account of Jesus performing this healing, he has broken the law on work. There is such a lack of compassion that the leader says “There are six days on which work out to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day” (Lk 13:14). The problem is that the written law is being placed above the human person, and that is what is wrong. Jesus says “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?” (Lk 13:15). You would not deprive your animals water because ‘it is the sabbath’ so why should this poor woman have to suffer a day more. We take so many things in the wrong way that we misinterpret the true meaning. The law of Moses was set forth so that the people could learn to be disciplined to the will of the Father and that they can know how to keep the faith and love, but what happens is that we get bogged down by the laws that we misplace the dignity of the human person. Now more than ever we need to hold up the dignity of the human person above all, and remember what it truly means to love one another.
Reflection: What am I prioritizing above others?
Lord God, thank you for today and every day. Thank you for your love and mercy. Lord, help me to see the dignity of every one that I meet today. Assist me in all that I do, that I may do it with love and compassion. Send forth your Spirit Lord that I may be a servant to others, and to live humbly with your love. I pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.