*** 1st Reading ***       

Romans 9:1-5

 I tell you sincerely in Christ,

And my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit that I am not lying:   I have great sadness and constant anguish for the Jews.   I would even desire that I myself suffer the curse of being cut off from Christ, instead of my brethren: I mean my own people, my kin.  

 They are Israelites whom God adopted, and on them rests his Glory. Theirs are the covenants, the Law, the worship and the promises of God.   They are descendants of the Patriarchs and from their race Christ was born, he who as God is above all distinctions. Blessed be He forever and ever: Amen!

 

Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

 

**** Gospel ****   

Luke 14:1-6

 One Sabbath Jesus had gone to eat a meal in the house of a leading Pharisee, and he was carefully watched. In front of him was a man suffering from dropsy; so Jesus asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 

But no one answered. Jesus then took the man, healed him and sent him away. And he addressed them, “If your lamb or your ox falls into a well on a Sabbath day, who among you doesn’t hurry to pull it out?” And they could not ans­wer.

 

Gospel Reflection

Jesus enjoys sharing meals with people. Matter of fact, He has been the guest of tax collectors and countless others considered as sinners by Jewish standards. And now He is the guest of an influential Pharisee. He is described as a “leader of the Pharisees.”

The man and his friends have invited Jesus to see how he observes the niceties of their interpretation of the Law. The Greek word used to describe their intentions is paratereo. It means ‘watch closely’, or to ‘observe carefully.’

Observe here means to see what the person does. From the context, this can take on the meaning of ‘watch maliciously, lie in wait for. ‘ The funny thing is, Jesus turned the table against them.

The one being examined by the Pharisees is now examining them, their Bible interpretation, their motives, and their values. And they could not answer Jesus’ question because they never thought that they would account for their beliefs.

They are too sure of themselves. And so, it must have been an awkward meal afterwards. It is not a feast partaken by friends.