16 April 2027 · Syro-Malabar Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malankara Rite · Latin Rite · മലയാളം
“After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored.” Luke 6:10
The Christians of Rome were divided. Some felt at liberty to eat any food; others, with a more anxious conscience, kept to vegetables and observed special days. Each group was tempted to despise or judge the other. Paul, who counts himself among the “strong”, does not tell the strong that they are wrong in their freedom. He tells them what love does with freedom: “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.” The test of any Christian freedom is whether it builds others up. Then Paul gives the reason, and it is Christ himself: “For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’” He quotes a psalm of the suffering righteous one (Psalm 69:9). Jesus could have pleased himself; instead he carried the insults meant for others, all the way to the Cross. On a Friday the Church remembers that Cross, and in the Easter season she sees it as the tree of life. To bear with the weakness of a brother or sister is to stand a little under that Cross. Paul then says something precious about the Bible: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” The Scriptures are not a museum of old stories; they are a daily source of steadfastness and comfort. And he ends with a prayer that every family, every parish and every Church needs: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Where disagreements, even about holy things, have wounded us, Paul does not ask us to pretend there is no difference. He asks us to bear with one another, to seek what builds up, and to let our praise become one voice again.
In the Gospel Jesus enters a synagogue on the sabbath to teach. “There was a man there whose right hand was withered.” Luke, a careful observer, notes that it was the right hand, the hand with which a man worked and earned his bread. “The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him.” The sabbath was God's gift to Israel, a holy day of rest and freedom, and Jewish teachers themselves held that saving a life sets aside the sabbath rest. The question here was whether a healing that could wait until the next day should be done on the holy day. Jesus does not argue in secret. He says to the man, “Come and stand here,” and brings him into the middle, where everyone must look at him. Then he turns the question back to them: “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” For Jesus, the sabbath is not a day when love must wait. It is the day that most belongs to God, and so it is the day most fit for the works of God. “After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was restored.” The man had to do something: he had to stretch out the very hand that could not move. Faith often begins like that, with obeying a word that seems impossible. Some of those present “were filled with fury”. The Gospel does not ask us to blame them, but to examine ourselves, because religious people of every age can love their rules more than the person in front of them. Christians keep Sunday, the first day of the week and the day of the Resurrection, as the Lord's Day. We keep it holy above all in the Holy Qurbana, and then in rest, in family, and in works of mercy: visiting the sick, helping the poor, reconciling with an enemy. The Risen Lord still says to every withered life: Stretch out your hand.
Theme: “After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was restored.”
Bearing with the weak as Christ bore our insults, praising God with one voice, and doing good on the Lord's Day.
“a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3
“We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans 15:1
Apply: Be patient all week with one person whose weakness irritates you.
“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
“May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,” Romans 15:5
Apply: Take the first step toward someone with whom you disagree.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.” Isaiah 35:3
“Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?”” Luke 6:9
Apply: Next Sunday, after the Qurbana, do one work of mercy.
Christ did not please himself; he carried our insults and healed the withered hand.
His disciples bear with the weak, seek harmony, and keep the Lord's Day with works of love.
Take-home resolution: This week bear with one weak brother or sister, pray for the unity of the Church, and plan a work of mercy for Sunday.
Dear friends, in Rome some Christians ate everything and others did not. Each side despised the other. Paul says: we who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves (Romans 15:1). The test of my freedom is whether it builds up my neighbour.
Why? Because Christ did not please himself. He carried the insults meant for us all the way to the Cross. Today is Friday, the day of the Cross. To bear with a weak brother or sister is to stand a little under that Cross with him.
And Paul prays that God may grant us to live in harmony, so that together we may glorify God with one voice. Families, parishes and even Churches need this prayer. Let us pray it today, and let us take the first step toward someone with whom we disagree.
In the Gospel Jesus sees a man with a withered right hand, the hand he needed for work. On the sabbath some watch to accuse him. Jesus brings the man into the middle and asks: is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?
Then he says: stretch out your hand. The man obeys, and he is healed. Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, is our Lord's Day. Let us keep it holy at the Qurbana, and then by doing good: visiting the sick, helping the poor, making peace. Alleluia! Amen.
Children, Jesus told a man who could not move his hand: stretch it out! The man tried, and Jesus healed him. When something seems too hard, try with Jesus!
Sunday is Jesus' special day. Go to Holy Qurbana, and then do something kind for someone, like visiting grandparents!
Lord Jesus Christ, you did not please yourself, but carried the insults meant for us all the way to the Cross, and you rose to give us life. Make us patient with the weak and eager to build up our neighbour. Grant your Church, our parish and our families to live in harmony and to glorify the Father with one voice. When our lives are withered, call us into the middle and say to us, Stretch out your hand, and give us faith to obey. Amen. Alleluia!