Coffee With God

Reflection: Luke 14: 1-6

Today’s gospel presents another confrontation between Jesus and some religious leaders on a sabbath. Luke recorded five sabbath healings of Jesus in his gospel. Jesus is invited to have a meal in a Pharisee’s house on a sabbath day. The word ‘Pharisee’ means ‘separated one’. They taught in synagogues, and were self-appointed guardians of the Law of Moses and its observance. Most of the Scribes, who studied, interpreted and taught the Law, belonged to the group of Pharisees and hence they are often paired in the Gospel. Luke presents the pharisee inviting Jesus for the meal as a trap set up for him, as he says, “they observed him closely”. They observed him because they had set a sick man in there, with an almost certainty that Jesus would heal him, despite the day being a Sabbath. The man suffering from dropsy, an accumulation of fluid in the body – only Luke names this illness. Remember, he was a physician and had the knowledge about the illnesses. Here we have the first lesson: Stand firm for the cause of those in need, even if your stand is not appreciated and you become unpopular. As expected, Jesus melts before human sufferings. He immediately throws down a challenge: “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” That question did not deserve an answer, because the traditions held that treating illnesses was a medical profession and, on a Sabbath, it was not lawful to do one’s profession. No one dares to answer. An “Yes” would mean they fall into their own trap, and a “No” would mean they have little concern for the man. Hence, silence was their safest response. But, Jesus healed the man on the spot and sent him off. Jesus then turns to his critics with a challenge: Who among them would not rescue their children or their animals if they fall into a well, even if it is the sabbath?” That touched their lives and knew they were in trouble on account of their own rules. Jesus was moved by compassion and not by the Law and traditions. How often have we failed to go to the help of a person because we were afraid of what people might say or how they might judge us? They may even throw Church ‘rules’ and ‘commandments’ on our face as criticism. But no one who acts out of genuine love for others can go wrong. A truly loving act can never be sinful.