Homily Thirtieth Friday of Ordinary Time (Luke 14:1-6)
Homily Thirtieth Friday of Ordinary Time (Luke 14:1-6)
In the Gospels, Jesus heals people on the Sabbath on seven occasions. Each time the scribes and Pharisees take issue with it. We may ask why? We would not hesitate to take someone to the hospital on Sunday. We would be appalled if a doctor would not attend to someone who was in pain on a Sabbath day.
A strict interpretation of Jewish religious law would prohibit any work that was to be done on a Sabbath. This was observing one of the Ten Commandments. Practicing the healing arts was considered work.
But allowance was made for certain types of work that could not wait. The exceptions were outlined in commentary on the Law. One compromise was revolved around an animal falling into a well or cistern. Open wells were very common in Israel and stray farm animals could fall in and drown. The animals had to be removed or the water would be tainted. One could do such work on a Sabbath.
Jesus points out the incongruity of this. Was a well more important than a person who was suffering. Jesus felt a religious law should not hold a person back from doing charitable work. We might even say a lifesaving work.
We all can be rigid in our own way. We all have our picadilloes. Right now, we are all struggling with our attendance at Mass on Sunday. Some would say that God will protect us if we come to Mass no matter how protocols are kept. Others would say that we should not take the risk no matter what. Is the Sunday obligation something we should overlook right now or are we being unfaithful? Obviously, the Bishops of our region feel like people should discern based on their own health and personal situations.
We need to be humble enough to make our own choices and not try to be too harsh with our assessments of other people’s motivations for not attending Mass. Perhaps many need to find other ways of keeping the Sabbath at the present time?
Reflection Questions:
- Did Jesus always disregard religious laws? How do I see him keeping the law in the Gospels?
- How am I observing the Sunday obligation right now? What am I doing to keep the day holy?
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Dear Parishioners,
The National Council of Catholic Bishops has asked us to observe a Novena in these days before he election. They ask that we say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be. Then we are to reflect and pray over the following:
Day Five: Friday October 30
“May voters and elected leaders uphold the dignity of every human life in their political engagement.”
May of the choices we make defend the sanctity of life. We need to pray that our relationship with life may deepen, so we are able to further understand its holiness and that this relationship with life would inspire us and those around us to work for a beloved community that sees every person as family. Pray for a president, a Congress and legislation that holds every individual sacred.
Pray for immigrants who flee violence, persecution and economic suffering, who look for safety and life with greater dignity in the U.S. Pray for the protection of the unborn and for expectant mothers and families who need help to care for their children and themselves. Pray for the 545 migrant children who are still separated from their parents at our southern border-whose parents cannot be found.
Let us pray that our hearts dare not feel we deserve to choose who lives or dies. Pray for Lisa Montgomery, who in December will be the first woman executed by the federal government since 1953. Pray for the families of the seven people who lost their lives to federal execution over the summer. Pray for the death penalty is abolished. Pray for the families of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Elijah McClain and all others killed by police officers or other civilians prejudiced against them.
May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints protect you this day.
Fr. Mark