Luke 6:6-11: a reflection

6It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 8But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. 9Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” 10He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. 11But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

A man with a withered hand is in the synagogue, and the scribes and Pharisees are watching, hoping to catch Jesus healing on the Sabbath so they can accuse him. Jesus knows exactly what they are thinking. He calls the man to stand up in the middle, in full view, and puts a question to them all: is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?

The question exposes the emptiness of their objection. They would rather a suffering man stay crippled than see the Sabbath used to help him. Jesus, refusing that cramped religion, tells the man to stretch out his hand, and as he does, it is restored whole. The day made for rest and mercy becomes exactly what it was meant to be, a day when a broken thing is made well. Their response is rage.

It is possible to be so concerned with the rules of religion that we lose its heart, which is love. Jesus shows that doing good is always in season. Where you have the chance to help, to heal a hurt, to restore something broken, do not let a smaller scruple or a fear of what others think hold you back. Stretch out your hand toward the good that is before you, and let God make it whole.

Lord Jesus, you would not leave a man crippled to satisfy a cramped idea of religion, but healed him and called it good. Guard me from a faith so busy with rules that it forgets love. Show me the good that is before me today, and give me courage to do it, trusting you to restore what is broken through willing hands. Amen.