＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Colossians 1:24 – 2:3

At present I rejoice

When I suffer for you; I complete in my own flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the Church.   For I am serving the Church since God entrusted to me the ministry to make the word of God fully known.

I mean that mysterious plan that for centuries and generations remained secret, and which God has now revealed to his holy ones.  God willed to make known to them the riches and even the Glory that his mysterious plan reserved for the pagan nations: Christ is in you and you may hope God’s Glory.

 This Christ we preach. We warn and teach everyone true wisdom, aiming to make everyone perfect in Christ.   For this cause I labor and struggle with the energy of Christ working powerfully in me.

 I want you to know how I strive for you, for those of Laodicea and for so many who have not met me personally. I pray that all may be encouraged. May you be established in love, that you may obtain all the riches of a full understanding and know the mystery of God, Christ himself. For in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowl­edge.

 

Ps 62:6-7,9

In God is my safety and my glory.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Luke 6:6-11

On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began teaching. There was a man with a paralyzed right hand   and the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees watched him: Would ­Jesus heal the man on the Sabbath? If he did, they could accuse him.

 But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man, “Get up and stand in the middle.”  Then he spoke to them, “I want to ask you: what is allowed by the Law on the Sabbath, to do good or to do harm, to save life or destroy it?”  And Jesus looked around at them all.

Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored, becoming as whole as the other.   But they were furious and began to discuss with one another how they could deal with Jesus.

 

Gospel Reflection：

This particular passage shows us how out of touch the teachers of the law and the Pharisees are with regard to the spirit of the Law. Instead of rejoicing that someone afflicted is healed, they instead weaponize the Sabbath and do not hesitate to use it against Jesus when he heals the man with a paralyzed right hand on that day.

The well-being of the paralyzed man is of no importance to them. He is a convenient instrument to target Jesus when he transgresses the prohibition to do work during the Sabbath day. But Jesus would not be deterred from doing good.

He heals the man with a paralytic right hand right before their eyes. Then he discusses with them an important truth. The Sabbath is for the good of the people. And if good is done, then the spirit of the Sabbath is fulfilled. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees are furious. They have been outmaneuvered by Jesus.

But they too could not be deterred. They discuss ways to bring down Jesus next time. Instead of learning from this experience, it even hardened their heart more.