A Message from The Pastor's Desk……

Dear friends in Christ, 



Luke’s gospel tells us of one occasion in which Jesus went to a synagogue (the Jewish place of worship) on the Sabbath day. At the synagogue that day are Scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders and “experts” if you will, on matters of faith. That day there was also a man with a “withered hand”. There was an issue that day. What would Jesus do? The Sabbath day was understood to be a day of rest, a day set apart for God. It is one of the ten commandments, given by God to God’s people. God's people are to “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy”. The question in Jesus’ day was what did it mean to rest? What did it look like to set aside a day for God? The scribes and Pharisees had a very rigid understanding and interpretation of Sabbath. Their rules were strict and unwavering. They were closed off to any other views than their own. Jesus knew this that day. He knew that if he healed the man, the scribes and the Pharisees would have seen it as “working on the Sabbath” and therefore a breaking of God’s commandments. We’re told in the gospel that “even though he (Jesus) knew what they (the scribes and the Pharisees) were thinking, he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Come and stand here.” Then Jesus asks the scribes and Pharisees a biting question “'I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?'” The scribes and Pharisees represent those who are missing the point. What matters most here, a nit picky, strict Sabbath observance or that good is done for someone in need? A bold Jesus is unfazed by fear of backlash as he goes on to heal the man in need. “After looking around at all of them, he (Jesus) said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand’. He did so, and his hand was restored. But they (scribes and Pharisees) were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.” So rigid, so smug, so self-righteous are these “faith experts" that they are actually furious about Jesus’ compassion and healing of someone in need. So closed off and hard of heart are they that they are unable to receive and rejoice in the good that Jesus has to offer. How could anyone possibly be angry at such a good thing?  This story offers us a warning about how people of faith can really lose sight of what really matters. This story also offers us the good news of Jesus who doesn’t lose sight of God’s love and who continues to be at work in our lives as his followers, softening our hearts, giving us eyes to see what's most important, calling us to share God’s love with all. A blessed month of February to all. 

God’s grace and peace, 

Pr. Patrick