Wednesday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time (Year I)
Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17 | Psalm 109(110):1-4 | Mark 3:1-6
Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘Is it against the law on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to kill?’ But they said nothing. (Mark 3:4)
On the train home from work yesterday, I spied a slovenly youth wearing this cap:
With the large X over the whole panel, and his generally slouchy attitude, does he actually mean “not the good vibes only”, i.e. you’ll be getting bad vibes from me too?
Or does he mean “ignore everything you see here”, asking everyone to excuse his unpleasant demeanor?
Or something else entirely?
Boy boy, what are you actually trying to say?
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In today’s Gospel, Jesus pokes the Pharisees yet again about their rigid observance of Mosaic law:
You must keep the sabbath, then; it is to be held sacred by you. The man who profanes it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day shall be outlawed from his people. (Exodus 31:14)
Jesus points out the inherent paradox of their literal interpretation of this statute: Your rules state that you cannot act to save a life on the sabbath, but standing aside and letting death happen is itself evil, and therefore a profanation of the sabbath. You’re literally damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.
(And just to force the issue, Jesus healed the crippled man in front of everyone at the temple, on the sabbath. Condemning Him after such a display of God-given authority and compassion would’ve been a very unwise move.)
Pharisees, what are you actually trying to say?
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Lest we Catholics think “oh, we’re better than that”…
Ministers of Hospitality at my parish (and possibly other parishes too) have suffered verbal abuse and, in at least one case, actual “vehicular assault” from parishoners unhappy with not being accorded a “priority exit” in the inevitable traffic snarl after mass.
One of my Catholic friends suffered for years under a “spectacularly bitchy” boss who actively undermined him in his own department on several occasions. Can you guess her religious affiliation, and how much damage she did to his own faith?
Brothers and sisters, by our own actions, what are we actually trying to say to the world?
We may know better, having been enlightened by the Word of God, but we also need to do better, else we would be rightfully judged as hypocrites by the people we try to proselytise. Do What I Say, Not What I Do isn’t convincing even to children.
Lord, we know that the words we say are as nothing compared to the things we do, but we are weak and often fail to do justice to Your Holy Name. Strengthen our resolve and ability to do good in this world, and thus give credence to Your Word that is Truth and Love, so that others will come to know and love You through our deeds. Amen.