Be Renewed

Gospel Reflection for September 9, 2024

“On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. 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. 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. 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?’ Looking around at them all, he then said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” (Lk. 6:6-11 NABRE)

By healing the man with the withered hand on the sabbath, Jesus was demonstrating that to love and serve God is to do good to others. Even if it’s the sabbath, the day of rest, we cannot abandon those in need. Rather, we are called to always serve others as Jesus did during His earthly life.

Do we stand around with rage, criticizing and judging others like the Pharisees in today’s Scripture passage? Or do we strive to love and do good to others as our Lord Jesus did?

Though the Pharisees were concerned with upholding the Old Covenant, they allowed their religious scrupulosity to blind them from recognizing the need of the disabled man in front of them. And they were blinded from seeing the love with which Jesus healed him. They were so set in their own ways, that they failed to acknowledge the importance of always caring for those in need, even on the sabbath.

For one reason or another, do we also overlook the needs of others? Do we watch others do good works, rather than seeking to do good ourselves?

God’s Word reminds us today to love and serve others, just as Jesus has loved and served us! May we strive to see the needs of others and tend to them rather than ignoring them. By living for God in this way, Jesus will mold our hearts and souls and renew them in holiness, just as He renewed the man’s hand.