THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday in the Second Week in Ordinary time, 2022

1Sam 17:32-33, 37, 40-51

Ps 144

Mark 3:1-6

Stretch out your hand

Dear friends in Christ, when Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, a miracle might look like breaking the law on the sabbath, but more than that, it is God who stretches his hands on us in blessing.

The first reading of today (1Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51) is a classical example of how the seemingly weak and incompetent in the eyes of the world can snatch victory in a dramatic fashion from the strong and powerful. David was no match for Goliath in any way as attested to by Saul who said, “You are not able to go against the Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” In fact, if there had been anyone in the line up of the Israelites who was capable of confronting Goliath, David would not have been given a chance. David’s response is a great show of faith in what God can do—“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.” He was not man enough to wear the armour of Saul, yet he was bold enough to confront the enemy of the nation. He had no spear and no sword, only five smooth stones and his sling but he had the courage that can only come from God. Goliath in all his boastfulness was brought down face to the ground by just a pebble and his own sword used to severe him because the little boy David had come up against him “…in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” The battle was won, the Philistines fled and Israel took the glory. What is the Goliath you have to face? The battle is the Lord’s. Do not be afraid but trust in God for victory.

In the gospel (Mark 3:1-6) we continue with the teaching on the sabbath. A man with a withered hand was in the synagogue and conspicuous enough for Jesus to notice him. As is expected, Jesus decided to heal his infirmity but first, he needed to heal the minds of those who wanted to use a healing on the sabbath, as a reason to persecute him. He asked the man to stand in the middle and asked the crowd, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” Jesus was angry about their hardness of heart and told the man, “Stretch out your hand” and it was restored. Jesus will also stretch forth his hands on the cross to restore humanity to right relationship with the Father. Hardness of heart is worse than a withered hand. We all need to stretch out to Jesus to be restored. Those who fail to stretch out their hands to other people are also unable to receive. We must stretch forth our hands in prayers and in giving. Stretch out your hand and open up your heart to those around you. The sabbath is a gift of rest from God not a law to kill.

Let us pray: O Lord, teach us true generosity. Help us to open our arms and hearts to others, just as you stretched forth your hands for us on the cross. Amen. 

+Remain blessed