Jesus again shows us where are priorities should be. He cuts through social and even man-made religious laws of the day that do not serve to bring us closer but are divorced from the law of God to love.
He asked those there: the scholars and Pharisees, if it is allowed to cure a man on the sabbath.
Since no work should be done on the sabbath. Much like our own Sunday, the day was to be dedicated to God and refreshing our body and souls. But the law had been extended and molded not to echo Gods commandments, not to further the refreshing of souls and body but to control and build man-made authority over the people.
There were known exceptions like feeding animals of course. And feeding ourselves and caring for children. But healing was not acceptable to them on the sabbath.
But it was more than that. More was going on here. For the Pharisees and scholars were more disturbed because Jesus, this new leader of this new movement, someone that did not bend to their ways, was leading people to truths they had rejected. Many realized he was the messiah. Many had seen his miracles and heard his words, and they did not always align with the words the Pharisees pressed onto the people. And he healed, an act of one sent from God, he healed on the sabbath in a Pharisee’s house.
It was too much. It was not nuanced or presented in any compromising perspective. No, he healed without hesitation. With compassion and love for the man who suffered.
Jesus came to us as one of us. He walked and ate and worked and was fully human. He understood pain and he understood the suffering of others and he had great compassion for them.
St Paul laments for his own people and how they did not understand. He loved his people and wanted only the best for them, to know Jesus, and was ready to die to help them and us find our way to Christ.
So much love and compassion shown today. And in both cases in the face of growing aggression and objection. It never stopped Paul or Jesus.
As we interact with others today, family and friends and strangers, we are called to have great compassion and a love to help others in their suffering… whether to help them know how much God loves them and how Jesus came to help us, or even to relieve their physical or emotional suffering.
Many people we will see today, interact with today, maybe buy our groceries from, or say hi to in passing … are dying for love. So many people in our world feel alone and unloved. Particularly our elderly who often sit alone most of their day. Or the child who lacks friends but must turn inwardly for consolation. So much chaos in the world and anxiety.
Now more than ever it is time to be the light of Christ in the world. To shine where there is darkness. To greet all people with love and never hesitate to help when we see suffering.
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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