First reading Philippians 1:1-11
Greeting and thanksgiving
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, together with their presiding elders and deacons. We wish you the grace and peace of God our Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God whenever I think of you; and every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy, remembering how you have helped to spread the Good News from the day you first heard it right up to the present. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes. It is only natural that I should feel like this towards you all, since you have shared the privileges which have been mine: both my chains and my work defending and establishing the gospel. You have a permanent place in my heart, and God knows how much I miss you all, loving you as Christ Jesus loves you. My prayer is that your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.
Responsorial Psalm 110(111):1-6
Great are the works of the Lord.
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love them.
Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.
He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.
Gospel Luke 14:1-6
‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the sabbath?’
Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.
Making Mercy Visible
In the Gospel, the religious leaders watch Jesus carefully as He eats a meal on the Sabbath. A man suffering from illness stands before Him. Jesus knows that healing the man on the Sabbath may attract criticism, but He does not turn away. He asks, “Is it against the law to cure a man on the Sabbath, or not?” When no one answers, Jesus heals the man. For Jesus, rules and religious practices are meant to lead people closer to God and to one another. They should never become reasons to ignore someone who is suffering.
This Gospel challenges us because we may sometimes ignore another person’s need when helping is inconvenient or may invite criticism from others. Jesus invites us to always see the person before us, rather than focus only on the cost or difficulty of helping. May we follow his example of love by making God’s mercy visible in our daily lives.
Reflective question:
How can I make God’s mercy visible by responding with love to someone in need today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
