Significant Sabbath

Today’s Scripture: Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. Mark 3:1-5

Reflection: Hands are the most wonderful instrument which God has made. You touch and feel and at the same time extend a hand of friendship to anyone you meet or are introduced to. 

A blind man too sees well with his hand through touch. What is a man without his hand? Or worse still, what is man if he has hands and yet if it is withered and cannot be used?

We come in every Sabbath to learn and be empowered in order to reach out in love and service towards others and to God. The priest offers the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus to the Father through his consecrated hands.

It is this very hand that has been healed by Jesus, so that he may continuously offer the sacrifice of praise by lifting up holy hands in prayer and with thanksgiving and praise and that is what Sabbath also invites each of us to do.

Prayer:  May I honor your Sabbath Lord and keep it holy by fulfilling my Christian duties of serving you with constant praise and thanksgiving in all that I do.


St. Anthony the Abbot, Patron of Dedicated Disciples, Pray for us

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us