Today’s Gospel:  Luke 14:1-6

REFLECTION
The "Sabbath rest" was meant to be a time to remember and celebrate God's goodness and the goodness of his works, both in creation and redemption. It was a day set apart for the praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on our behalf. It was intended to bring everyday work to a halt and to provide needed rest and refreshment. It was not, however, intended to put a stop to love of God and love of neighbor.

Jesus provides a concrete example of loving someone as you love yourself (i.e., loving another person in need as much as you love your relatives and your possessions.  He is willing to incur the wrath of the hypocritical religious elite in order to help a man in need of healing.

In one occassion where Jesus was invited to a banquet he already knew that his hosts wanted to catch him in the act of breaking their Sabbath rituals. So when he gave his defense for healing on the Sabbath, they treated him with cold silence. They were ensnared in their own legalism and
could not understand or see the purpose of God in allowing a work of healing to take precedence over rest.

Jesus understood the importance of the Sabbath, but taught that people were more important. The gospels record seven incidents in which Jesus healed on the Sabbath – the seventh day of the week set apart for rest and worship. He showed the fallacy of the Pharisees' legalism by emphasizing God's intention for the Sabbath: to do good and to heal. God's word has power to heal and to set us free from ignorance, error, intolerance, and prejudice.

Let us honor the Lord's Day with appropriate rest and worship, but treat our neighbor with love and compassion at all times.

- MA

Today’s Reading:  Phil 1:1-11

PRAYER
Father Almighty, may I always honor you, both in my work and in my rest, and in the way I treat my neighbor. Fill me with your love and keep me free from a critical and intolerant spirit that I may always seek the welfare of my neighbor in every situation.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.