“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mark 3: 4).
Wednesday 20th January 2021, in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of: 1.Pope St Fabian (+ 250). Italian. Fabian divided the diocese of Rome into seven diaconates. This facilitated aid to the poor. He suffered martyrdom under Emperor Decius.
2. St Sebastian (+ 288). Italian from Milan. Officer in the Imperial Guard under Emperor Diocletian. Martyred when he converted to Christianity.
3. Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi (1903 - 1964). Nigerian. Trappist monk and priest. Beatified in Nigeria by Pope St John Paul II in 1998.
Why do we honor the saints? Jesus is glorified when we honor His saints. Their intercession is powerful.
In our key Scripture yesterday Monday, Jesus silenced His adversaries by teaching authoritatively: “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mark 2: 27 - 28).
We have today another Sabbath controversy. Here we see Jesus on the offensive: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mark 3: 4). We know the answer to Jesus question from yesterday Scripture. The adversaries did not answer the question. They knew the answer but they had ill-will and hardness of heart.
The man with the withered hand represents all of us. What the Pharisees miss is that the great day of healing is the Sabbath, Lord's Day / Sunday and the Healer is still the same: Jesus Christ healing His ailing sisters and brothers through His word and through the Eucharist.
Is it good to increase the minimum wage or is it unlawful to so?
Is it good to give some relief to illegal immigrants or it unlawful to do so?
We all can be Pharisees and Herodians in what we consider good and bad.
Jesus speaks to us every day through the Scriptures proclaimed in the Sacred Liturgy. Same Scripture, same Liturgy all over the world. This is the type of reform that Pope St Fabian initiated.
Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com
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