Daily Reflection Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. The scribes and Pharisees watch Jesus, waiting for him to respond to the crippled man. And when he heals him they take great offense. I imagine this crowd watching the scene in the synagogue. As Jesus went to heal the man they raised their hands, waving them in protest. They shouted “No work on the Sabbath!” The crippled man would have noticed the irony. These men, shouting in angry protest, waving their hands – healthy hands. Hands that work and collect wages; hands that have held lovers and cuddled children. The man watched these healthy hands waving in protest amidst shouts of “No work on the Sabbath!” It is as if to say that God is not allowed to work on a particular day such as the Sabbath.

Beware of people who want to limit God’s authority. It is like those who for so long believed that a baby who died before baptism would not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God. To be sure, the Sacrament of Baptism plays a significant role in the journey of Christian salvation. But the sacraments do not restrict the authority of almighty God. 

Remember that Jesus promised to fulfill the law; never would he abolish it. Restoring a crippled man to full dignity by healing his hand shows the power of God over nature and the presence of God among us.