Philippians 1:1 - 11,
Psalm 111: lb-2.3-4.5-6,
Luke 14: 1-6 Full Readings
Saint Alphonsus RodriguezLove Over the Law
The beginning of the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians is so instructive. It reflects the concern and love every Bishop and priest of the Church ought to have for God’s people. This responsibility of love and concern does not end with Priests, it comes down to the parents and children in the family, teachers and leaders, and in fact, everyone who has the responsibility of caring for others. The question Jesus asked the lawyer and the Pharisees in today’s gospel about healing on the Sabbath and his subsequent healing miracle is one of care and concern he has for a suffering person. He also puts the same question before all of us today. What act of love and concern can you do today? Jesus invites us to join him in healing our world of hatred, pain, neglect, indifference, slander and disunity.
The man suffering from dropsy was likely judged by the Pharisees to be a sinner and therefore they saw his affliction as a punishment by God. We know that not all suffering is a consequence of sin, and Jesus has taught us that judgment is God’s right alone. Jesus shows concern for the suffering man and taught us how to be merciful. May we choose as Christ did to reach out and lift others up with mercy and forgiveness.
The Pharisees followed the letter of the law, interpreting it in minute detail. In their rigorous enforcement, they distracted themselves and veered off from God’s original intention. They missed the message Christ brought—love sums up the whole law. Jesus gave us the reason behind the law. Not working on the Sabbath is an important way to honor God, but the law does not justify leaving someone to suffer unnecessarily. Loving acts of kindness and healing are always encouraged, Sabbath or not.
Jesus left the Pharisees speechless when he exposed their hypocrisy and legalism. They knew that no words could defend their judgmental attitude. At times in our lives, Jesus exposes our sins to us as well—either through other people, interiorly during prayer, or by negative consequences we experience. In those instances, silence might be our best recourse, but not the silence that disguises internal rage like that of the Pharisees. Our silence reflects our sorrow for having offended Jesus, humility, and the desire to be strengthened and healed through the sacraments. As we say in the act of contrition, we “firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.”
Let us Pray
Dear Lord, true love engenders a merciful heart. Help me to love like you do, so that when I see someone in need, I reach out to help, whether it’s convenient or not. I want to recognize my own insignificance and see you in every soul I encounter. When I fail, allow me to see my faults and humbly seek you in the sacrament of reconciliation. Amen
Be blessed.
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