You’ve heard this story before: While Jesus is teaching on a Sabbath in the synagogue, he does something that the Pharisees think is against the rules of the Sabbath. This one is in Luke 6:6-11. As usual, there are Pharisees and teachers of the law overseeing everything that goes on inside the synagogue. And in the middle of his teaching, Jesus is getting ready to heal a man with a crippled hand. But before he does this, he stops and looks at the Pharisees who are waiting for a chance to accuse Him of breaking the rules and regulations according to the Law of Moses.
Jesus, knowing that the Mosaic Law forbids all forms of work on a Sabbath, remembers the several occasions when the Pharisees condemn Him for healing on a Sabbath. So, Jesus flips around and challenges them with a question: “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” (v6)
Basically, he’s asking them, not about the healing per se, but about whether there is a law against doing good.
The point that Jesus is making is that there is no law, or there SHOULD be no law, against doing good, especially when it involves caring for people, and for showing them mercy.
And this is also what I hope to briefly discuss with you today, namely to allow us to reflect on where our minds and our hearts are when it comes to extending kindness to others at the spur of the moment, or in other words, when you’re in the middle of doing other things.
In today’s episode in the synagogue, we see that Jesus is busy teaching, and then even though it’s not in his agenda, and maybe He is still in the middle of His lesson plan, an opportunity to extend kindness and care to someone presents itself.
Actually, if you examine the story, the man with the crippled hand didn’t disturb the session. He didn’t walk to the front and interrupt Jesus in the middle of his teaching and beg to be healed. No, it was Jesus himself who spotted the man. Not only is Jesus considering whether to interrupt His teaching at that very moment; He is actually knows the risk of being yet again hauled to court by the Pharisees because He remembers about how meticulous they are about the laws of doing work on a Sabbath. But what does Jesus do? He immediately takes action, and He does not want the man to wait a single minute longer and continue to suffer.
Do you choose when it’s “time” to be kind?
What about you, my dear brothers and sisters? What would you have done?
Listen. I do not question your kindness, my dear brothers and sisters. But what I’d like us to examine in ourselves is how we react when faced with unexpected interruptions, which are opportunities to do good to someone, when it’s not necessarily in our best interest to take action and extend kindness right there and then.
Let’s say you’re driving in traffic in the rain and you’re rushing to go to an important prayer meeting. What’s your reaction to motorcycles or bicyclists who block your path and slow you down and make you arrive late at your meeting?
What are your biases about beggars on the street who just suddenly appear by the window of your car asking for alms? Do you extend kindness, or do you have a bias that you’re really just promoting syndicates? Or are you concerned about breaking the law and slowing down traffic while you grab a few coins from your bag to give to the beggar?
The other day, my wife and I were eating at a fancy restaurant inside a brand new mall. You know how it is where there are tables outside of the entrance of the small restaurant, and occupying part of the lobby and walkway. That’s where our table was, where people would be passing by. And in the middle of our meal, a young girl approached our table and begged for alms so she could have something to eat. I was tempted to say, “Hey, what are you doing here? It’s against the rules to beg inside the mall.” But instead, I quickly pulled out my wallet and gave her something, hoping that no one would catch her and stop her from seeking aid from others.
Do you remember the parable of the Good Samaritan? If you had somewhere important to go, but you saw that there was a need to extend kindness to a stranger, where would your mind and your heart be at that precise moment?
I think the lesson in today’s gospel is clear.
- There is no law against kindness. And neither should we place stumbling blocks, or even excuses, to withhold kindness when it’s within our power to be of help.
- In fact, the law of God requires and demands kindness, even when it means dying to ourselves, sacrificing our own time, talent and treasure in order to extend love to our neighbors.
- Finally, and most encouraging of all, remember. The sacred heart of Jesus suffers when He sees people suffering. He will not wait before He takes action to extend kindness and grace. He will always prioritize doing what is best for you and me.
Yes, brothers and sisters. We are commanded to extend love to our neighbors. And today we are reminded that the reason we can love others, is because God loved us first.
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