A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 3:1-6)
He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
As Jesus encounters a man in the synagogue with a withered hand, the Pharisees watch closely, waiting to see if Jesus will cure on the sabbath. In response to the Pharisees’s question “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath?” they remain silent. Jesus asks the man to stretch out his hand, and he cures him immediately. Mark tells us that the Pharisees “took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.” In perfect observance of the will of the Father, Jesus accomplishes the work he was sent to do, a model of courage and compassion over legalistic adherence.
God, help me in the spiritual battles of this day, which are certain to come. Two prayers come to mind that will aid me when, by your grace, I need you to deliver me in the midst of struggle: the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel and today’s Psalm. “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. . . .” From Psalm 144: “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war. My refuge and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, my shield, in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!”
From the Gospel acclamation: “Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and cured every disease among the people.” Lord, help me know your will for me today and give me strength to be bold in accomplishing it!
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.