In today’s Gospel Jesus is confronted by some Jewish Scribes and Pharisees. The Pharisees are a lay reform movement within Judaism who are zealous for the things of God and seek to discern and to do God’s will. The Torah commands: “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). The question then becomes what it means to keep holy the Sabbath. What does it mean to be holy, to be godlike. Jesus asks: “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?” Jesus’ answer is to keep holy the Sabbath means to do good and to save life. This is Jesus’ justification for healing the man “whose right hand was withered.” Note that this man’s life is not in danger, but Jesus wants to do the good of healing and giving a new and fuller life to this man. While this may be viewed as “doing work” on the Sabbath Jesus sees a greater good in healing and giving new life. Jesus wants this encounter with these Jewish leaders to be a “teachable moment.”
Jesus calls us beyond a strict legal or literal interpretation of the Scripture to get at the heart of God’s message, that is, the true will of God. As Jesus will teach later in this same chapter God’s will is that we be people of mercy and compassion: “Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36). In another encounter with some Pharisees Jesus quotes to them the words of the prophet Hosea: “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:12-13; Hosea 6:6).
Jesus continues to challenge us today to be holy people by showing mercy and compassion to all, especially to the poor, the outcasts, the immigrant, the day laborer. And anyone searching for work. As we celebrate Labor Day we pray for all of those who are out of work and those who lack a just wage. We pray that all of us may work for the common good and recognize all people are children of God. What is lawful in God’s eyes is to do good and to be people of mercy and compassion.
Image: “Jesus healing a man with a withered hand, emphasizing goodness over law in a synagogue” by Tatians/stock.adobe.come/ID1943025174.