DAILY GRACE
October 30, 2020, Friday of the 30th Week of Ordinary Time
Scripture: Luke 14:1-6
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, ‘Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?’ But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?’ And they could not reply to this.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation:
“‘. . . on the Sabbath. . . .“
Oh, that thorny Sabbath! It seems that every time Jesus turns around he is locking horns with someone over this day of rest. Today a man appears, suffering the joint pain and fever of edema, and there are those present who argue over what is “lawful.” Since Jesus is sharing a meal with lawyers of the Torah, whose giftedness lies in their razor-sharp minds, Jesus shrewdly frames his question to them in legal terms. Then, as typical, he effortlessly heals the man with the infirmity. They’re dumbfounded. With his example and with his words, Jesus has challenged them to examine what the Sabbath is really for.
What is the Sabbath really for? The Sabbath of course hearkens back to Genesis, when God rested from creating the world. When God rested it wasn’t as if God said, “Finally, we’re done!” God’s rest was not, as some imagine, divine inactivity. Look around: creation continues, even on Shabbat. In Genesis God is pictured rejoicing at all that’s been accomplished and how very good it all is (See Gen. 1:31). It is a rest of wholeness, of life! Jesus honors this re st by making this man’s life whole. And this healing foreshadows that day when Jesus will share with us the ultimate rest he himself has entered into, namely, “. . . a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9).
In some streams of the Christian tradition, observance of Friday is meant to prepare us for the observance of Sunday. It is a comely tradition in my opinion, much needed in today’s world. Why not begin today? With this Friday? How different our world could be if humanity paid more attention to the rhythm, two days lived in tandem with the restorative life of God. It would help us enter into God’s rest (Heb. 4:1ff).
Prayer:
“Lord even of the Sabbath,” I could use a reality check. How often Sundays have been the day I can either get my person or family chores and shopping done, or pursue my interests without thinking of yours. What am I doing to my life! To others’ lives? To society? Beside my need for a little rest and relaxation, I need time to focus the lens of my life on you. Help me find my happiness (true rest) in looking to your glory —- that I may be fully alive!
Contemplation
May I rest in You.