Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:1-6

On a Sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking, “Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them    “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern, would not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.

 

What does it mean to keep holy the Sabbath? The Pharisees were convinced that Jesus was breaking one of the ten commandments. He was continually healing people on the Sabbath. This was supposed to be a day of rest and worship, not a day of work. Then why was healing someone on the Sabbath such an abomination to the Pharisees? The Pharisees became fanatical about the Mosaic law. They found ways to expand the meaning and purpose of each of the ten commandments. They took the commandments to very extreme limits where it was almost impossible to comply with the laws. Jesus tries to convey the real meaning and purpose of the laws. The real meaning of the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath is to honor God. What better way to honor God then to cure someone from an ailment. The fanaticism of the Pharisees blinded them from the real wishes of God. Fanaticism can lead a person to deny the very principals of justice which God so clearly presents to us in the Bible. It causes us to compromise on justice and compassion. We should never become fanatical about anything because when we do, we become the judge which denies the mercy of God to his lambs.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, teach me to honor your commandments in a way which honors you.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon