Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom and healed every infirmity in the people - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 3, 1-6

Once again, the Gospel we have just heard is about the Sabbath and the Pharisees opposing Christ. This is a true fact of Christ's life. He surely entered the synagogue to pray and preach the Good News through his teaching, because the Sabbath is a day consecrated to God. His usual opponents were present, watching his every move, even hoping that He would make a mistake, namely to undertake healing on the Sabbath. For Christ, it was never a mistake to heal this man, whose hand was atrophied, even on the Sabbath, because it is a matter of saving life: the right thing to do. The law, for Him, does not take precedence over healing this sick man, over saving a life. Laws, moreover, are designed for the good of people, and not a law for the law's sake. Moreover, God gives life and not death. This does not mean that Christ abolished or transgressed the Sabbath, healing this man, but that He wants above all to shake the conscience, in the face of the laws that communities have. For those who make and apply the rules, in order to organise society, please listen to this conscience. Let the rules established not be oppressive, i.e. go against God's will.