Yeast again!

Hypocrisy! That terrible yeast again!

10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.-Luke13:10-17

As I read and reflected the Gospel, I was struck by a few points. 1) Importance of Sabbath, 2) Jesus is merciful, 3) Hypocrisy, and 4) Life.

Importance of Sabbath. Sabbath is the Lord's Day, God's Day, a day of rest with God, a day of prayer, Mass and Church services. Because it is Sabbath, any work is forbidden for the Jews. This includes healing, strenuous activities and other strong movements like walking more than a mile. That's why the synagogue leader's reaction is pretty normal. It was clear as water that healing happened on a Sabbath. However, the hypocrisy is too much because each and every person who owned an ox or a donkey would bother to untie the animal and lead it to the water even if it meant disregarding a Sabbath requirement. "My donkey might get thirsty and die." "I just bought this horse. It cost me much. I should take care of my investment. I know it's Sabbath but... my horse might get thirsty and die. I just have to take care of it." Strange isn't it? We can be very concerned with our dogs, cats and other animals. But we can turn our heads away and be oblivious of our neighbor's difficulty. Today, this hypocrisy lives. 

There are many campaigns against preservation of whales, sharks, turtles and other marine life for the future generation. There are movements to preserve big cats like lions, tigers and leopards for the future. There are organizations protecting wildlife like pandas, bears and other almost-extinct species. Yet, the irony of it all - some of us nod on anti-life practices like abortion, death-penalty and euthanasia. These people justify it by saying it helps in depopulation, it saves the mother from unwanted pregnancy, it saves the mother from trauma of having an unwanted child, freedom of choice, removing 'cancers' in the society, saving the family from burden, etc. In short, acts of evil wrapped in a beautiful box. Why are we waging war against our very own race?

Despite being in a bad light, the synagogue leader has a point in preserving the sacredness of the Sabbath by doing no work. It is just so saddening to see many institutions, organizations, people and businesses treating the Sabbath - or Sunday for many of us - as just an ordinary day still. Many still go to work. God has given us 6 days already for work. But why do we still have to use the one day with the Lord for work?

Jesus is merciful. Yes, full of mercy to us all. The woman in the story was just there perhaps quietly asking for healing. Wish granted! Jesus approached her and healed her. God knows all our needs. The truth is, even before we open our mouth and asked for help, God is already on His way taking good care of our immediate needs and those that are still to follow.

Help is there, only waiting to happen at the right time and place. Sabbath or Sunday is about God. God is love. All the acts that we do in the name of love - whether on a Sabbath or in an ordinary day - are known and appreciated by God. If we are merciful and only loving to others, God will not be angered for He is love and mercy.

Image courtesy: H. Copping; Chestatee Wildlife Preserve and Zoo; The End of the Working Day (Brooklyn Museum); various artists