Reflections on Scripture | Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Luke 6:6-11

On a certain sabbath Jesus 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.

Reflection

One of the great tensions in the Ministry of Jesus with the temple was his disregard for the law. But what He's trying to say is you have to understand that the law itself is not what you are bound to, but your intention is what He's interested in.

Why do I do the things I do? Why do I not do certain things? And so you see in this that there's a clear indication that when your intention is to do good for someone, to heal someone, and that may not fit with the regulations and rules of religion, you're obligated to follow your intention. It's a very, very important teaching about the role of law in the life of everyone who belongs to a religion.

The key is intending to do the work of God.

Closing Prayer

Father, give us discernment so we can know what we need to do in a situation and let us rely solely upon your guidance, awakening in our heart a desire to heal, to do good, to bring life. And we asked this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross