September 12th, 2024

St. Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff. 
09.09.24

Today's gospel 
Luke 6:6-11

The text tells a story of Jesus healing a man with a crippled hand on the Sabbath, which was against the law according to the Pharisees. 

Jesus is always on the side of the needy person. He has compassion for a crippled man. 

Jesus is breaking the law (all work, including the work of healing, was prohibited on the Sabbath), knowing that He is being watched. He is purifying the religion in which He has been reared, with immense courage, because He knew what the Scribes and Pharisees are thinking and planning. He is insisting that  regulations matter less than the principle that it is right to do good on the Sabbath (heal a person/give life).

May the Lord teach us every day to purify our religion so that it springs from a good heart, not from dead regulations.

Let us pray 

Lord Jesus Christ,  continue healing and giving us full life. Restore us and teach us to bring life to unbearable situations of other people, even when that might go against human made laws. In prayer, we bring before You the shame that may often be part of us, and praying for the healing grace, flowing from You to us.

Amen.