Monday, September 07, 2020 - 23rd week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 6, 6-11 - My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.

Dear Christians! Since the previous week (22nd week of Ordinary Time), we have begun to focus on the Gospel according to Luke. Luke did not devote long chapters or specific verses to Jesus' teachings, as Matthew did on the Sermons on the Mount, but from time to time he alternates teachings and actions to guide us. This is a good lesson for us: talk and act, not just talk.

Luke spoke about the disciples harvesting on the Sabbath (we heard it last Saturday: Why do you do what is not allowed...), here it is about the man with the withered hand. It has become a habit among some Jews, like the Pharisees and their friends, to always be on the lookout for Jesus' words and gestures. Why would someone always end up spying on others? There are many reasons: it can be jealousy, pride, arrogance, condescension... so that all kinds of negative thoughts, criticism of good or evil arise. Normally criticism should be constructive, but here we see destructive and derogatory criticism. Let us beware of this evil.

To these unhealthy curiosities, to these negative and slanderous criticisms, Jesus answers with a question: Should we do good or evil, save a life or let it perish, on the Sabbath or any other day for that matter? Indeed, sometimes in our lives we lose the sense of priority, under the pretext of complying with the law and regulations, especially in these difficult times of crisis. May Jesus' gestures be good examples for us at all times; and whatever the obstacles or criticisms, let us never miss an opportunity to do good.