Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 3, 1-6
Jesus entered the synagogue.
There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched Jesus closely
to see if he would cure him on the sabbath
so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand,
“Come up here before us.”
Then he said to the Pharisees,
“Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil,
to save life rather than to destroy it?”
But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger
and grieved at their hardness of heart,
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel
with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
A withered hand
1) Jesus entered the synagogue. How nice it is to see an insistent Jesus who perseveres because He is clear about His mission and where He is going in life, despite being criticized and chased away. He is convinced and certain of what He is doing. This is where you have to find your strength, because you don’t have to give up or give in. If you are really convinced of what you must do and who you do it for, then get on with it, work hard at it because you have to continue for as long as your heart keeps beating. Are you sure of what you are doing? Then, go ahead and do it.
2) A man: This person’s hand was paralysed. He couldn’t do things on his own. This is something that can happen to you as well when you feel you’re not able to act by yourself. Today we pray to Jesus that He may heal you and fill you with His Love, so that you can carry on. Because when you are seized by paralysis, you can’t do anything and you don’t let things happen, because the phrase “I can’t” comes to your mind and your heart fills with fear. Today let’s ask Jesus to heal you and remind you that you can.
3) Stretch out your hand: The best way to get out of this paralysis, is by stretching out, opening up to others, extending your hand. Help whoever you can today. I don’t mean financially, although if you can, do so. I mean, help others with your work and with small details and deeds of love. Those are the things which make you feel alive and fulfilled. For example, visiting an elderly person who cannot walk and lives alone or a friend who is going through a rough time and invite him or her for a drink. Just stretch out, lend a hand with simple attitudes from the heart. I can assure you that the paralysis in you will be healed.
God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
