REFLECTIONS TODAY

According to the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus’ noncompliance with the Sabbath rest is proof that he is not a man from God. Jesus disputes this accusation by giving a deeper meaning to the Sabbath. Jesus claims to be “Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mk 2:28) and, as the Divine Son, continues to do the work that his Father does (Jn 5:17). By healing and restoring health, by loosing the person from the bonds of sickness, and by lifting the burdens from the people’s lives, Jesus reveals the work of the Father. By this act of charity, Jesus is giving “rest” to the person who is bound by physical and spiritual bondage, manifesting the true meaning of the Sabbath.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM • Ps 144
“Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!”
GOSPEL • Mk 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.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.