Monday 6 September 2021
Today is Monday the 6 September in the 23rd week of Ordinary time.
The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Psalm 146: “It is good to sing in honour of our God - sweet is his praise. The Lord, Restorer of Jerusalem! He brought back Israel's exiles, healing their broken hearts, and binding up their wounds.”
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.
Luke 6: 6-11
On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.’ He got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?’ After looking around at all of them, he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
Picture the scene in the synagogue now; the people who have gathered to worship, to listen, to seek God. Imagine among this congregation, the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is being closely watched by them, to see if he will break the law… What do they look like and where do they stand, as they wait for Jesus?
Now imagine the man with the withered hand in the congregation. Where is he?
What does his hand look like?
As you listen to this reading again, try to imagine that you are this man with a withered hand…
Jesus tells you to, “Stretch out your hand.” Can you respond now, by stretching out your hand to the Lord? Let this act represent holding out a part of you which feels withered, for the Lord to see… it might be your faith, or mental health… or perhaps a physical injury or something else. Take a moment to let the Lord respond to you… notice what He says…
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.