Word to the Wise
Monday, October 24, 2016 - Monday in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
[Eph 4:32-5:8 and Luke 13:10-17]MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 MONDAY IN THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [Ephesians 4:32 - 5:8 and Luke 13:10-17] "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity." [Luke] Those of us who were educated in the Catholic faith by means of the Baltimore Catechism can recall the injunction about doing "servile work" on Sunday. Great concerns of conscience could be experienced about mowing the lawn or baking cakes, etc.. The way in which the Sabbath was to be observed (and still is) is not just something in the past. It is a present matter, as one can see from the crowds at shopping malls or Wal-mart! One might sympathize with the synagogue leader who protests Jesus' healing of that lady on a sabbath, but there were other questions involved. Why would the woman in question be of less value than the farm animal that required watering on the Sabbath? In today's incident, one might be challenged to ask about what is more sacred, the strict observance of the law (which had a sacred purpose) or the sacredness of the human person? Why is love of God set against love of neighbor? Jesus notes the possibility of hypocrisy in the enforcement of the sabbath law. Untying a bound animal and leading it to life giving water is humane, but even more is "untying" the woman from her. Infirmity. Perhaps we might ask ourselves, at the same time, how we do observe "the Lord's Day?" It could make for an interesting family discussion. AMEN
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