Gospel Reading for January 21, 2026 – Mark 3: 1-6
COMPASSION
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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Of course, Jesus knew that after what he did, they would do everything to put him to death. Jesus did not purposely intend to violate the Sabbath Law, which the Pharisees had made too rigid and impractical. However, on the Sabbath, the opportunity to render COMPASSION presented itself when he saw the man with a withered hand. Healing and restoring a person to health is one of the best ways to give glory to God.
When the opportunity to render COMPASSION presents itself to us, do we act upon it? Or, do we offer countless excuses to justify our inaction?
Teach us, Lord, to take every opportunity to be compassionate toward those in need around us.
