Readings:
Genesis 35:1 - 36:43
Matthew 12: 1-21
Psalm 15: 1-5
Proverbs 3: 21-26
Matthew reading: Healing on the Sabbath - this became the "Big Issue Of The Week" to the Pharisees, who prided themselves on adhering to the letter of the Law. Trouble is, they were somewhat less concerned with the spirit of the Law, and so there results a tendency to condemn people when they do things that are not considered "holy" on God's holy day. Yet Jesus, as with many other things, turns matters on their head. Since God places a higher priority on mercy rather than sacrifice, Jesus argues that it is entirely appropriate (and, in fact, required of us) to perform acts of mercy whenever the opportunity arises - even on the Sabbath.
The sad thing, though, is that instead of rejoicing over the fact that a man with a badly-deformed hand received healing, they chose instead to show anger towards Jesus. One questions why this is so. Was it their self-righteousness coming through - "we are right and you are wrong"? Or was Jesus getting a bit close to home, in that by healing this man Jesus was showing the kind of mercy that the Pharisees themselves were expected to show - and didn't? Whatever the reason, we need to ensure that before we jump up to condemn someone's seemingly "non-spiritual" action, we must carefully question our own motives for placing ourselves in the position of judge and jury.
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