FOR ENEMIES

The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on  the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. – Luke 6:7  

Here are snippets of some woes and wins of community life. There are brothers who always complain about the food, and there are those who always go back for seconds and thirds. There are the sporty types, musicians, artists, academics, gamers, and all sorts of subgroups you can think of. But what I love most are the brothers who make me holy.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Luke 6:6-11

6 On a certain sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. 8 But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” 10 Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. 11 But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

think: What Pharisaic traits do you have? How do you change these?

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Read the Bible in one year - Psalm 76-80  

THE BIG DEAL ABOUT THE RIGHT HAND

Roman military culture dictated that foot soldiers hold the shield with their right hand. During meals, they ate with their right hand. Judaism also considered the right hand as the good hand. Left-handedness, like lameness and blindness, was classified as an unfortunate imperfection. Once identified as left-handed, one was automatically disqualified from serving as a priest in the Jerusalem temple.

When I visited Jordan and Egypt, the heavy emphasis on right-handedness still prevails. People pick food from a common dish at mealtimes. The right hand is the “clean” hand for shaking hands, for writing, and for eating. They say that the left hand is used for wiping yourself at the toilet.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus pitied the man with a withered right hand. One of the exemptions of breaking the Sabbath law is when it involves life and death. Jesus affirms this when He said, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to destroy it?”

Jesus saw the man’s withered hand as a life-and-death situation. Why? Because the withered hand was the right hand, which is used for eating. The withered right hand limited the man from fulfilling his basic physiological needs. It has led to his physical deterioration because he could not eat well. Jesus saw this and proceeded to restore the right hand so that the man could begin to eat well.

Jesus was not only culturally sensitive. Instead of a dole-out mentality, He was keen on restoring the man’s basic functions so he could help himself. Fr. Haluendo Amit, OCD

------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -------

How do you help those in need? Do you just share your resources, or do you take the time to know their real needs?

Dearest Jesus, thank You for giving us a model on how to really help those in need. Amen.

Today, I pray for: __________________________