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Gospel Reading for January 22, 2025 – Mark 3: 1-6
WATCHERS OF SINNERS
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.
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Instead of watching Jesus closely to see how he would cure the man with a withered hand, they were watching him closely for the chance to pounce on him when he heals on a sabbath. They were like undercover agents waiting for a chance to catch the person red-handed.
The Sabbath, being a day of worship, is good. Healing a sick person is also good. The two are compatible. Why should it be bad to do good?
As Christians, we are not supposed to be WATCHERS OF SINNERS. By the example of Jesus, we are supposed to be compassionate and understanding with sinners so we may be able to help them go back to the fold. As Jesus said in John 8: 7 – “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” We ourselves have enough sins, and this is what we have to watch, with the power of the Holy Spirit given to us.
Lord Jesus, teach us to look at the log in our own eye first, instead of looking at the speck in our brother’s eye! (Matthew 7: 3)
