Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
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Gospel of Mark 3:1-6
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.
I imagine Jesus utterly frustrated with and annoyed by the Pharisees. They keep following him everywhere he goes, questioning his every move. He has little to no privacy. How difficult to properly instruct the Disciples with Pharisees putting their noses in Jesus' business.
I can hear the Pharisees talking among themselves: Why on earth does everyone claim this Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah? This weirdo breaks every sacred law in the land with his blasphemous mumbo jumbo! We need to gather as much info against him and quickly. No time to lose! We cannot risk other Jews converting to this man's strange ways!
Only a few passages in the bible mention Jesus as being angry. Most of us are familiar with Jesus losing his cool in the temple, casting a whip at the money changers and turning over merchant tables! Anger is a rare occurrence because Our Lord remains peaceful and calm most of the time. However, there comes a breaking point when Jesus refuses to take much more of stupidity, hypocrisy, and wrongful doing. (The same goes for most of us as human beings!)
Jesus knows all too well the Pharisees' harden hearts. They don't care to learn about the Truth of Christ. In many respects, they are jealous and resentment of this self-proclaimed Messiah. Christ takes all of the glory, power, and attention away from themselves. Hence, I think of the Pharisees as cowardly and weak. It's as if each one of them possess a withered hand. A hand that obeys the law to the 'T' but also a hand which accepts bribes and resorts to corrupt practices. Their hypocrisy is downright shameful!
Here comes along the poor man with a disfigured and withered hand. He didn't do anything to deserve it. He was most likely born that way. Yet, Jesus decides to heal him on the Sabbath. He doesn't give a rats you-know-what those pesky Pharisees think. He actually asks for permission in an indirect way but the cowardly Pharisees refuse to answer. I find the Pharisees' silence very interesting. What was going in their minds as they watched a miracle take place? Did they secretly wish to be like Christ or were they so full of rage they wanted to see him dead? Unfortunately, they were not too fond of Jesus' spectacular healing. It's too strange, too miraculous, and too against Jewish law.
Are you withered or weak? Is your belief in Jesus a little iffy? If so, I encourage you to read the bible. Start off with the scripture readings of the day as presented in the Mass liturgy. Then explore the passages you find insightful more thoroughly. Sign up for a bible study or do some research on your own. There are tons of excellent commentaries available!
Don't become a Pharisee deciding that Jesus is a phony baloney! Don't turn away from the Church in anger and disbelief. Always remember that Christ loves us and heals us! He never abandons us!
Saint Agnes, Pray for Us!
-J.
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