The WORD in Other Words by Fr Antonio Enerio SVD (Switzerland)
Wednesday Week 2 in Ordinary Time
Martin Buber tells the story of his paralyzed grandfather who was asked to relate a story about his great teacher, the famous and holy Baal Shem Tov. The grandfather recounted how the holy man used to jump up and down and dance when he was praying. Swept up in the fervor of the narrative, the grandfather himself stood up and began to jump and dance to show how the master had done it. At that moment the grandfather was completely healed of his paralysis (From the Sower’s Seeds, Brian Cavanaugh,T.O.R.).
In today’s Gospel the synagogue serves as a place not only for teaching, preaching, and praising but also healing. Jesus heals a man with a withered hand. But the Pharisees finds something wrong with His actions especially that it is a Sabbath day. But the intention of Jesus is clearly to teach and to heal, to do good things, and to preserve life despite criticism and opposition.
A great challenge we have today is to make our communities, families, work places and churches a place of praising, teaching and healing. We can lighten the burden of a community member, break the bread of sorrow with them and speak a word of hope. The healing may not always be instant; it can happen at the least expected moment.
It is always lawful to save life whichever day of the week.
Éditions Verbum Bible 
One comment