Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11)
It is quite appropriate that on Labor Day there is a gospel
involving a labor dispute. Jesus is
being accused of violating the law forbidding work on the Sabbath.
Of course, Jesus sees the situation differently. He does not
mean to undermine the Sabbath. Like any
good Jew, Jesus recognizes the value of the Sabbath in preparing the people for
the kingdom. The relaxation, the joy of
being with friends, the opportunity to visit whether someone’s house or a lovely
natural place all anticipate the wonder of heaven. But one of God’s beloved children stands in
dire need. How can Jesus not but help the
paralytic?
God loves each of us as much. He gives us work both to utilize our
intelligence and to provide our needs.
And he also gives us this day of rest to contemplate His goodness and to
share with one another.
