Gospel: Luke
14:1-6
On a
sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the
people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man
suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in
reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept
silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he
said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not
immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer
his question.
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Reflection:
To cure
or not to cure on a Sabbath day? Sabbath day is supposed to be a day of rest
and worship. But here is Jesus not following the rules of their Jewish religion.
Did Jesus deliberately disregard His Jewish faith? Or there is something more important
for Jesus than mere observance of His Jewish faith?
Jesus
doesn’t choose a special place, occasion or time to help and to heal as what is
shown in the gospel. As long as Jesus’ sees a need He would do something about
it regardless if it’s a Sabbath day or not.
The
Pharisees and the scholars of the law were those who faithfully observe the Sabbath
law. However, Jesus by His action simply told them that there’s an exception; that
the law of the Sabbath can be violated also. For as long as there is a valid
reason to violate it. Therefore the observance of the Sabbath day should be superseded
by the more important need. In this instance the need to heal the man sick with
dropsy.
What
would you do for instance if you were in the situation of Jesus? Would you
simply let the man suffer from his severe sickness even if you can actually do
something to help him?
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