THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Monday of 23^rd Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Cor 51-4

Ps 5

Luke 6:6-11

'Stretch out your hand'

Our first reading today (1Corinthians 5:1-4) was the admonition of Paul to the community, and a member, who was living a scandalous life. Sin never makes anyone happy, no matter the pretense. "It is reported, that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife. And you are arrogant!" Paul sees the action of the man as condemnable and wishes that he be given a sort of punishment, that will put the body to the shame of destruction, to save his soul. Paul is unhappy that the community did not take decisive action on the matter. A community can easily drift into accepting wrongdoing as a part of life, if it endures, pity and then embrace a sinful way of living. Paul sees the action of this man, as an evil influence on the community and asks that the remnant of evil be cleansed out of the community, just the way the Jews do, in preparation for the celebration of the Pasch. You must search your mind; is there any sinful act you are harboring in your soul? Now is the time to expel it, before it destroys you completely.

The Gospel of today (Luke 6:6-11) tells of Jesus in the Synagogue, on the Sabbath. To trap him, a man with a withered hand was allowed to stay where it was impossible to overlook. They wanted to see if Jesus would work a miracle on the Sabbath. Jesus asked the man to stand up before everyone and then asked them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" Silence must have enveloped the assembly. He then asked the man to stretch forth his hands, and just as he did, he received his restoration. Like Jesus, we must not be afraid to tell others to stretch forth their hands. You may not instantly heal a withered hand, you may just be able to heal a withered soul. You may not feed a man for a day, you may just be able to provide a meal. You may not have enough to pay someone's school fees, you may just buy a pencil or an exercise book. Never be afraid to do good. You are not meant to solve anybody's problem; if only you can reduce it, you have done enough, and only God can solve problems. Never forget to stretch forth your own hands to God, He wants to refill, beyond your imagination.

Let us pray: Lord help me to realize, 'that it is in giving that we receive.' Give me the courage to do good, no matter how insignificant it might look. Amen. 

+Remain blessed