Reflection for Wednesday January 17, Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot: Mark 3:1-6

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” 

Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.

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Reflection:

Do you strictly observe the law or  you  sometimes bend the law so that the mercy, love and compassion of Jesus could be seen through you? 

The question of observing the Sabbath day crops up again in the gospel. And  Jesus proves once again that it is far more important for Him to make a big difference in the lives of the people. Than observe the Sabbath day as what He did when He cured a man with a withered hand amidst the protestation of the Pharisees. 

The gospel is silent if the sick man had faith but he was obedient, when Jesus told him: “Come up here.” He simply followed without question. Our obedience to the teachings of the good Lord can do us a lot of good if only we would learn to follow it. 

Jesus was also aware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He knew that they were there to watch and denounce His every move. For the simple reason that He was slowly becoming a threat to their dominance in their society. 

In the same manner, Jesus is also aware of our own hypocrisy towards Him. If we are only using His name to gain dominance and popularity in our respective field of influence. And if we are only using His name to advance our own selfish interest. – Marino J. Dasmarinas