First reading 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Get rid of the old yeast of evil and wickedness
I have been told as an undoubted fact that one of you is living with his father’s wife. This is a case of sexual immorality among you that must be unparalleled even among pagans. How can you be so proud of yourselves? You should be in mourning. A man who does a thing like that ought to have been expelled from the community. Though I am far away in body, I am with you in spirit, and have already condemned the man who did this thing as if I were actually present. When you are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and I am spiritually present with you, then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
The pride that you take in yourselves is hardly to your credit. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast, then, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Responsorial Psalm 5:5-7,12
Gospel Luke 6:6-11
Is it against the law on the sabbath to save life?
On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.
Do Good Always
In today’s Gospel, Jesus entered the synagogue and noticed a man with a withered hand. He knew that the religious leaders were watching Him closely, eager to see if He would do anything that contradicted the Sabbath law. Despite knowing their thoughts, He asked the man to come forward and asked the religious leaders a question: “Is it against the law on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?” By saying this, Jesus wanted them to understand that God’s law was not meant to prevent them from loving others. The religious leaders were so focused on following rules to the letter that they could no longer see the suffering person in front of them. In contrast, Jesus placed compassion first. He refused to let religious rules become more important than human need.
Today, Jesus invites us to put the needs of others first, which may mean spending time with someone who is lonely, helping a friend who is facing difficulties, reaching out to someone whom others ignore. May we ask Jesus for compassionate hearts that always choose to do good, even when it is inconvenient or misunderstood.
Reflective question:
What small act of love might God be asking of me today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
